Egypt man faces criticism over 12-year old sons's engagement to younger cousin

Cairo: A 12-year-old boy is set to marry his 11-year-old cousin with the blessing of his father, who said his son always used to say that he will marry her before anyone else approaches her with a marriage proposal.

According to a report in Mirror, the father, Nasser Hassan, claimed his son Omar and his niece Gharam were only engaged and that they will get married when they reach the legal age of marriage.

“Omar has always loved Gharam so much that he used to say he will marry her when they grow up before any other man asks for her hand in marriage when she is older. They will get married when they reach the legal age,” Hassan said.

The engagement has, however, drawn criticism from activists. The head of a women's rights group has reported the engagement to Egypt’s National Centre for Childhood and Motherhood.

The children’s engagement "will only lead to an early marriage in which the girl will be deprived of equal chances to education, growth, and will isolate her from social spheres,” Women's Centre for Legal Aid’s head Reda Eldanbouki said.

Hassan had announced the engagement at the wedding of his eldest son. He later said there was "nothing inappropriate" about the engagement.