Arranged marriage of girl, 12, ‘violation of rights’

HUMAN rights activists and Romanians yesterday condemned the arranged marriage of a 12-year-old Gypsy girl, saying it was illegal and a violation of human rights.

Ana Maria Cioaba was married on Saturday to Birita Mihai, 15.

The reluctant bride stormed out of the Romanian church during the service and said she did not consider herself to be married.

The marriage had been arranged by the girl’s father, Florin Cioaba, a self-declared Gypsy king.

Dana Cherendea, an adviser to Florin Cioaba, said the rebellious bride had begun to “resign herself to her fate”.

“They spent the (wedding) night together. It was the deal,” Mr Cherendea said.

“Nobody asked her whether she wanted it. It is part of a tradition for Gypsies, and the marriage shows that traditions are respected.

“It is not the one you want, it’s the one you get.”

The forced marriage was a human rights violation, said Mark Percival, the leader of the Romanian Think Tank, a group that fights for democratic reforms in Romania.

“I totally condemn this marriage. It is against European Union legislation. It is a violation of the right to marriage because they are being forced into a marriage they don’t want,” Mr Percival said. Romania hopes to join the EU in 2007.

“Romanian authorities ought to take appropriate action to prevent this violation of human rights,” said Mr Percival.

Romanian law allows 16-year-olds to get married if they have parental consent. People aged 18 or older can marry as they choose.

Romania is generally tolerant of the traditions of Roma, as Gypsies also are known, including the custom of marrying children. Marriages involving children are not considered legal and many Roma never marry legally.

The marriage was unlawful because “it is instigation to illegal sex between minors”, said Nicolae Stefanescu-Draganesti, the president of the League for Human Rights. Sex involving people younger than 16 is considered statutory rape in Romania.

Baroness Emma Nicholson, the European Union envoy to Romania, called on authorities to separate the couple.

“It is necessary to implement human rights in any situation. Unfortunately, Romania has a number of serious weaknesses which could jeopardise its progress, if they are not urgently remedied,” she said.