A decade-a lot of time court competition out-of Hadijatou Mani, a woman pressed with the sexual bondage just like the a beneficial “5th wife” concluded having Niger outlawing the newest habit.
Hadijatou Mani, who since the an earlier girl is marketed for approximately ?2 hundred due to the fact an effective “5th spouse” so you can a mature guy, noticed one “marriage” governed illegal by the Niger Legal out of Appeals, the nation’s high legal.
This new “fifth spouse”, or ‘wahaya’, thraldom habit happens when also the five wives enabled by Islam, men take on most ‘unofficial’ wives who happen to be treated since the domestic and you may sexual slaves.
Inside the a practice one nevertheless lasts in a number of section within the Niger and you may neighbouring countries, younger girls and you can ladies are sold otherwise trafficked to help you guys, exactly who reduce additional wives since a symbol of its wealthy position. 5th wives enjoy none of your own liberties away from a proper partner; no marriage ceremony actually ever takes place, additionally the woman or girl is basically owned by their ‘master’.
Ms Mani’s battle, backed by Anti-Thraldom Internationally (ASI) as well as regional companion Timidria, might have been an excellent landmark situation having tackling traditional bondage practices nevertheless persisting when you look at the Niger. In the 2008 she claimed her instance on around the globe Economic People out of West African Claims (ECOWAS) legal, and therefore influenced that the Nigerien Bodies failed to protect their away from thraldom, a view that reverberated in the united kingdom. Czytaj więcej