Original subtitles

I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced

written and directed by Khadija Al-Salami

Ayah.

Ayah my daughter.

Ayah.

Come on my daughter, get up it's late.

Get up and get us some bread.

Fifty.

Hundred.

Come on Ayah my daughter, get up.

Get up and get us some bread my daughter.

Get up please.

Give it,

I'll go buy the bread.

You stay,

and let your sister Ayah go get them.

Where are you going? Hey!

Hey!

Hey girl,

you want bread?

Hey girl!

Hey girl!

Hey!

How much do you want bread for?

Bring the money.

Do you want bread?

Go! Go!

Go!

Walk!

God damn you!

What's wrong with you!

What's wrong with you

I was about to hit you!

Take me to the court.

which court?

Just the court!

This is the court.

Don't be afraid, dear daughter.

Get up, dear daughter.

Where are your parents?

Who is with you here?

No one.

What are you doing here?

I came for the judge.

Which judge?

The judge.

My daughter, there are lots of judges here.

You know what...

Come after me.

Your honour! They took my land,

and these are my papers!

They prove my ownership.

So I hope from your justice to equate me!

They killed my son, I want those guilty of my son!

My divorcee took my kids and forbade me from them.

Where are the human rights!

Where is justice!

Your honour, my husband is beating me.

And he left me and my seven kids without any allowance.

And I'm unemployed.

Neither have I any job to support myself.

And every time I tell him go seek for a job,

he beats me and my kids like crazy!

I'm at Allah's mercy and yours!

At Allah's mercy and yours, look for a solution!

Look, your honour!

See what did he do to me from beating!

Court is adjourned.

What are you doing here, dear daughter?

I want to get divorced!

You want what?

I want to get divorce.

Why are you married?

How can a kid your age be married?!

I just want divorce.

But...

Who got you married? And from where are you?

How old are you?

I'm ten years old.

And we are from the village of Bon (coffee).

Hurry up, Auntie! My son is going to die.

Speak of good. Dear son!

Najla!

Najla!

Where are you, my daughter?

I'm counting stars.

Is now time to count the stars?

Come help me daughter!

Now cover him, cover him with the rag honey.

Keep him on your lap.

Let me see my son.

Allah has granted us a beauty like me!

What's her name?

Her name is Nojoom.

Because she came and the sky is full of stars!

Nojood! I'm saying her name is Nojood.

Which means Veil.

"Welcome."

"And from Yemen... Oh pearls! Oh pearls."

"Oh treasure on the trees."

"Whoever grows you, never went poor."

"Never went poor."

"Neither was challenged."

"Neither was challenged with shame."

Come on here.

Get down, my daughter.

Yes.

Darling.

It's not time, let me work.

This is Bon (coffee).

My daughter! Ple..

My son!!

My son?

My son!

My son!!

Allah saved me, nothing happened to me.

It's ok, dad.

It's all good.

It's all good my daughter

Allah made it safe.

Come take your sister from here.

Sami,

watch the cattle!

Or you seem to want a beat up!

Nojoom! Nojoom!

Let's go Nojoom!

I'll go with Sami.

Ok then, take care of your sister, Sami!

Put this here.

Nojoom!

Sami!

Come feed the chicken with me.

Najla!

Take the cow and feed it, ok?

Look out for it.

Come on, pull! Pull!

Where are you, come!

Go get the goat and the sheep.

Come on, go with your brother!

How's my beloved?

Do you know because of your naughtiness we almost killed your brother today!

Come on!

Listen, my daughter.

Look out for your sister and I'll take your brothers for an outing and come back, ok?

Ok.

May Allah bless you.

Here my son.

Let the goat in.

Put it here.

Sit down,

want me to teach you how to do it?

Do like this now, I'll feed the cow.

Here! Eat!

Because of you our mum left us!

Salam (greeting), my beloved!

Welcome! How are you?

Fine.

How are you? Greet your Grandma.

Welcome! My boy!

Come, my beloved, come!

How are you doing?

I'm good.

Mum, give my son some bread, he looks hungry.

- How are your sisters, my son? - They're fine.

- All are fine? - Yes.

Thank God.

What are they doing?

Feeding the cow.

- Cow? - Yes.

Uncle, I have come to you to get back my wife.

You know that the house is left unguarded and the boys are let unguarded.

And the kids are only to be with their mum!

We have brought the sheep with it's mother.

To satisfy you and her.

How do expect me to bring her back to you after you sold her cow, which was her dowry.

And above all this, you married another woman.

Other people's daughters aren't toys in your hands to play with

- I wont give my daughter back to you no matter what! - I'm mistaken, and for the cow...

There! I have bought another cow, it milks more and produces more ghee.

And about the marriage, you know uncle,

that Fatima left the house, and my father went to betroth his niece to me.

Without my knowing, I swear I didn't know.

And I had to get married, and there she is sitting in his house.

Uncle do you want me to embarrass my dad!

In front of everyone, and you know better about the tribal traditions and customs.

See if she is pleased, I'll judge upon you to give in a bull along with the cow.

To satisfy her.

Bring all of it.

Go feed the cow.

Assalamu'alaikom (greeting), Najla!

Wa'alaikom Alsalam (greeting back). Where are your dad and brothers?

They went for an outing and they'll come back.

Can you give me some water to drink?

Ok, here, keep it in your hand.

- I feel sick! - Me too.

Woah! What happened? Look! The road is carpeted, long and black!

- Where?! Where is the black carpet? - There it is in front of you, or are you blind.

- You're naive! - What about you.

Sami! Nojood! Sit down and be quiet!

Look! Look how big is this village!

So big! Allah! (sign of fascination)

We arrived! This is the house.

- This one? - Yes.

Ok then, come on.

Come on get down. Where is your veil? Wear it!

Come get down, this is the house.

Is this a house or a sheep shed?!

How will you make us all live in these two rooms?

Are you crazy? You want me to live with her and her kids in these two little rooms?

No, you look for another house for me! This is what we can afford.

We have no choice! You can only have what's available!

You are in Sana'a, they warned me that everything here is expensive!

May Allah assist me!

Came play with us!

What's this?

Play!

Not like this! Like this.

Come! Let's see.

What's this?

Looks like it's a wedding?

Why is the woman wearing like this?

Maybe she's the bride.

Let's get in after them! No! This isn't right.

Please! Please! It's not right!

Come on!

Allah! She looks nice with the white dress!

Najla! Najla! Did you wear this dress when you got married?

Mum and dad will start worrying about us. Let's go home!

Assalamu'alaikom (greeting) Wa'alaikom alsalam (greeting back)

(greetings)

How are you? This is the groom!

This is the groom, yes?

Yes! And this is the first witness, I'm renting his house.

And this is the second witness! The second witness.

In the name of Allah, the most merciful. (preferred starting line)

Say after me - ok.

Give me - "Give me".

Your daughter - "Your daughter".

The free - "The free".

Nojood - "Nojood".

According to Allah's and his prophet's norm - "According to Allah and his prophet's norm".

And with the conditions and dowry consented upon - "And with the conditions and dowry consented upon".

Say... I give you - "I give you".

My daughter - "My daughter".

The free in will. "The free in will".

The chaste - "The chaste".

Nojood - "Nojood".

According to Allah's and his prophet's norm - "According to Allah's and his prophet's norm".

And with the conditions and dowry consented upon - "And with the conditions and dowry consented upon".

In the name of Allah!

Recite (Al-Fatihah) - (Al-Fatihah) that Allah will bless us with good

{Recitation}.

May Allah bless you brother.

Here uncle! Take!

May Allah bless you all.

You too.

You're welcome.

All good?

- No need to count! - What?

Don't count

- is it fine? - Good, good.

May Allah bless you all!

May Allah make it good and blessful!

Welcome all!

It's an honor and amiability!

Welcome!

If our neighbors didn't lend us the mattress.

It would've been a shame to invite anyone in!

You better not have invited a lot of people!

We wont know then where to seat them!

You're over youself, from where would we know a lot of people, we only know our neighbors.

Yeah? Instead of thanking me for lending you my space for your daughter's wedding.

You're being snippy on me!

Honey! She's under her father, and the rental is paid from the dowry!

Or you would've been sleeping in the streets!

Actually! Her father is my huband! And it's his obligation to provide for me!

And if you don't like it, get out of my room!

Stop this daily fight! Even in a day like this?!

Thanks God we don't know a lot of people!

Or you would've exposed us.

See how beautiful you look.

Come on let's dress you up!

This dress is not beautiful!

I don't like it! I want to take it off!

No I don't want it!

Hush my daughter, what's up with you?

This is not a bride's dress! I want a white dress!

My daughter, this is what your husband brought! What can we do, we can't be exigent!

See what a ring he gave you!

See how beautiful!

It's too big for me

I'll cut down it's size for you now, give me a minute.

Come on! The women are waiting to see you.

We're late already.

Get up and dance girls!

Where have you been? I looked for you everywhere! Let's go play.

What's this on your face?

What? Oh! Yeah, a crazy woman put it on me!

Wait.

- Are you carrying a ring? - Yes, but it's too big for me.

Can I see?

- I know a shop where we can cut down it's size, come on! - Let's go.

Come on.

- Want to sell it? - Yes.

- Is it yours or did you steal it? - I swear it's mine, my mom gave it to me.

Look how she opens her eyes!

And how she closes them.

And she sings!

Nojoom! Nojoom! Nojoom!

I'm right here! Sami!

- Come play with us! - Answer them, everyone's looking for you!

- No! I want to play! - First go answer and then we play together!

- Really? - Yes.

Where have you been? Go! Go where I told you to! Come on! Be a man!

Where have you been?! Your wedding day and you wear like this?

What's this in your hand! Leave it!

Go on! Take your daughter and get her ready!

Her husband waited for an hour already! It's a shame to keep him waiting! Come on!

My daughter where did you go? We looked for you everywhere!

I went to play! I want my toy!

You play on your wedding day! Where's your dress?

No I want my toy! I want my toy!

Calm down my daughter! May Allah guide you! What toy!

I want my toy!

My daughter this is our fate!

- And all of us must get married, Come on! - No! I want my Toy! No!

Come on, my daughter! Get dressed! Your father yelled a lot!

Where is the ring my daughter?

- I told you the man waited for long already! - My daughter is ready! Calm down!

Come on hurry!

I want my toy! I want my toy!

Here! Take your toy! I found it thrown on the street!

You know what... stop complaining, move!

Stop! Now it's your husband who will look after you - Don't you think it's wrong, dad?!

- You give in, Nojoom, without letting me say goodbye! - Say goodbye! The man is waiting hurry!

Don't let them do it, Najla!

Good.

Stop that's enough! Come on!

My daughter is your responsibility! I only have your promise!

I'll take good care of you daughter, Uncle! And I'll keep my promise!

And she's going to be in her own house with dignity!

May Allah bless you! Goodbye Uncle.

Come on, let's go!

Sami! Sami!

Sami!

Sami!

- My brother! This Qat will kill me of thurst! - Here, drink!

I swear it's a tragedy.

It emptied our pockets along with our water.

We'll die of hunger because of it!

Do you know that I spent on it more than my own kids!

My brother please! We all know about the harms of Qat but what can we do, everyone's chewing it!

And why not us? We just chew along like all of them!

And just if you see how tasty they are! What a taste!

Then you're going to see it's side effects tonight!

Just rush! Effects you say! Just hit the road!

Assalamu'alaikom. Assalamu'alaikom.

- Are you carrying any weapon? - No, I don't have.

Check the boot.

You can go.

- Here - Thanks, go

I'm your mother-in-law and this is your husband's room.

Let's sleep.

You are not the only bride here.

This girl also got married a week ago.

She's the best of women.

Stop.

What do you think men, let's excuse the groom.

You take your comfort and I'll be right back.

- You can go. - Hit it boy.

- Sit down. - Don't touch me.

Don't touch me!

What do you mean don't touch me.

Listen, you want me to just let you sleep? And you know today was our wedding.

Don't touch me!

I'm saying sit!

Sit you...

- Let go of me! - God damn you!

I swear if you don't just sit I'll slap you!

Let go of me!

Leave this thing!

Shush, God damn you!

Shut up! I swear if you don't sit!

Leave me!

Congrats! Congrats!

Heaven forbid!

What's this?!

Get up! Your husband went early to work.

Get up! Get up!

Come on get up!

Get up! Come on!

When a woman sleeps with her husband she must get cleaned.

Come on! Get yourself ready, then go get water from the well in the low valley.

What's wrong with you my daughter!

Come eat.

Hey girl.

Come eat!

Enjoy.

All this blessing is from you, my son.

But I'm tired.

I have nothing left in this world after my father's death except you, mum.

The food you make is the tastiest in the whole village.

But from now on, don't worry.

The blessing is from Nojood,

or else why did I marry her young?

I did only so that she'd help you.

And you raise her the way you want.

God bless you.

You too mum, may Allah protect you.

Thank God.

Come take the dishes.

Hey! Take the dishes!

What's wrong with her? Enclosed to herself, saying nothing since the morning!

It's ok mum, you know she just left her parents and siblings, she's not used to us yet.

Give her a couple days and things will be fine.

Hopefully.

Good night, mum.

Nojood.

Nojood!

Nojood!

Shame on you! You leave you husband calling in the room.

Get up! Get up!

Get up! Get up!

I swear I'll tell my father what you did!

You'll tell you dad? Listen.

You are my wife! Your father has nothing to do with you anymore! You understand!

Don't touch me! Don't touch me!

What a woman! Sleeping until sun is up!

Women wake up at dawn!

Come on get up!

Hey, what are you doing here?

We looked for you everywhere!

You got me and my mum worried!

Come on let's go home.

Don't get any closer! I'll throw myself.

Ok ok, I wont! Be careful, you crazy, you'll die!

I'd rather die than go back to you.

Ok, that's it, come home with me and I won't annoy you anymore.

You're a liar! I don't believe you.

I'm a liar?

Fine, then stay where you are and let the hyenas and dogs eat you!

You're not my business anymore ok! You're free, goodbye.

- Come here! - Let me go!

Let me go! Let me go!

Let me go! Let me go!

Where has been this crazy girl?!

Oh, Mum, if you know where was she!

She wanted to throw herself off the peak!

What's this madness!

This girl wasn't brought up well!

She came to ruin our reputation among the village.

She obviously needs harshness to straighten!

You hear me! I married you to relief myself! Not to chase you everywhere!

You hear me! I paid you father the money I worked for for years!

Years of work!

Are you listening to me!!

I'm saying shut up! Shut up! Stay silent.

You made me crazy!

We leave this to God.

You can't pass this door until you obey!

Open the door!

Open the door!

May God's dissatisfaction be upon you!

Open the door,

I want to perform ablution.

Where do I go if you don't open the door tell me.

Open!

Open the door!

Open!

May God's dissatisfaction be upon you! May he not bless you!

Greeting.

What's wrong mum, why are you sitting here?

I want to pray, and I haven't performed ablution, neither used the bathroom!

Why?

This God damned girl, she locked herself up the whole day!

It's ok mum, let's see.

Nojood.

Nojood.

Nojood open the door!

Nojood!

I'm saying open.

Open I'm saying or else.

Open up girl!

Thanks God, she's still ok.

Look for a solution for this.

I have never seen such a crazy and stubborn girl.

Dad! Mum!

That's Nojood's voice! Mum! Dad!

Mum!

What's wrong with you Nojoom, what's wrong my daughter?

What's up?

How did you come at this time? What's wrong?!

- Uncle! - Yes!

Come in!

Hello (greetings)

Sit down - Thanks.

Get up.

What is it my beloved, here.

What's that on your forehead? What's wrong!

Oh mum, if you see what he did to me!

What's he doing to you? Why are you in this condition?

I'm bleeding every day, and I feel inflammation in my belly.

He didn't wait for you to grow a bit more, damn him.

Your daughter made my life like hell.

Since the first day of our marriage, she neither listens to me nor my mum.

And she refuses to work, she just keeps crying.

Mum, this man is hurting me, and he wants me to sit with him.

And you told me if anyone holds me or wants something from me to come to you, and here I am.

And I want to say, I don't want to go back to him.

I told you that in case it was a stranger, not your husband!

And he has the right, my beloved.

We told him to wait for you to grow up and start getting menstrual period.

Start getting what? You won't defend me! I'll tell dad!

So I told myself, I should bring her to you.

Make her understand.

Daddy! Please daddy don't make him take me back, please daddy!

Please dad! And I'll do everything you say please.

Nojood my daughter, you're married now, so you must go back with your husband.

Daddy don't let him take me back please.

My daughter, if you want to stay home you're welcome.

But what will people say, they'll say you're flawed for sure for coming back at this time.

Your story is painful and confusing at a time.

Mr. Judge, we're closing down the court everybody's out except you.

Why what time is it?

It's almost two o'clock.

Ok, coming now.

My daughter, there's nothing I can do for you today.

As you can see, the shift is over.

Tomorrow is weekend, so I can't see you until after two days.

But your case is difficult and thorny,

I can't promise that you'll win the case.

A lot of girls got married young.

But none of them came to a court for divorce.

It's about customs and traditions that got associated with the family's honour.

Your case is complicated.

Come back after two days.

Are you alone?

No one came with you?

Then.. get in my daughter.

Sorry honey, I'm late,

I introduce you to...

What's your name?

- Nojoom - Nojoom.

This is Nojoom, Nojoom, this is my daughter Sama.

Get in Nojoom, Welcome.

Wait, Sama! Take Nojoom with you to the room.

Come.

Allah! (sign of admiration) You cooking smells amazing.

- What did you cook? - Wait till you taste today's cooking and tell me your opinion.

Wait Mr. Judge!

Nice.

= I brought a guest. - A guest?

A young girl came to the court today, she's three years younger than Sama.

She wanted divorce.

Younger than Sama?

I don't believe it.

You'll believe it when you see her, I brought her with me.

Since when did start bringing complainants to our house!

I couldn't leave her.

She came at the end of the shift and tomorrow is a day off.

I just couldn't, I saw our daughter Sama in her.

The problem is, I don't know what to do for her.

We don't have a legislation that prohibits underage marriage.

And why don't she go to her parents?

The problem is that they're the reason behind it.

But this case can cause us problems.

Trust me, if you were in my place

where is she? She's with Sama in her room.

What? You want me to leave my daughter with a girl who slept with a man?

No, this is just over!

She must go back to her parents, I can't let her stay in our house!

What's your name my daughter?

Nojoom.

Sama, give Nojoom from your smaller clothes.

And get washed and come.

Come.

N

J

O

M

Nojoom.

See how can you write your name.

And this is my name.

And this in mine!

Now colour the sea.

Nojoom.

Don't be afraid my daughter, it's just a nightmare.

Turn here.

From here.

This is the house.

Mum! Mum!

Nojoom! Where were you my daughter?

Where were you? Your father and husband were looking for you and didn't sleep.

Where is your scarf? What are you wearing?

Did anyone do anything to you? Talk! Is there anything?

Where's dad?

Lower your voice, your father swore that he'll kill you.

Come, let's hide you until we find an excuse for you come on.

Dad get up!

Where are you?! Where are you?! Three days looking everywhere for you!

Where did you go?!

- What is it uncle? - Where have you been?

Listen, take her with you immediately to the village and raise her the way you want.

She ruined our reputation, go on!

What's wrong?

This is my father, and this is the man they gave me to!

- Are you her father? - Yes.

- Her husband? - Yes.

- Take them - Wait!

(arguing)

What did she do!

Those were prosecuted according to your commands.

- Those are the father and the husband? - Yes this is the father, and this is the husband.

What have you done my daughter? What have you done?

Take them to custody, take them now!

Don't be afraid.

They only came to hear your story.

We're on your side, Nojoom!

Please, silence.

In the name of Allah.

Meeting open.

Your honour, we present before you today to defend the child, Nojoom.

Who got married with neither her knowledge nor approval.

Once they signed the marriage contract, they took her to a remote village away from her parents.

Where her husband assaulted her ...

... while still a minor.

In addition to that, he hit and humiliated her.

And today we present before you to appeal for divorce.

Do you have a lawyer?

What? A lawyer?

Someone who understands in law to defend you.

Defend me against what?

What's my crime which according to I deserve to be lawsuited and kept in custody.

And who's this woman that is interfering with our life.

This is the father, if there's any issue among us we solve it between us.

What's the deal with all those people?

Your honour, we're tribesmen, this humiliation is not our way.

You're charged here, and inside a court everyone get's their right.

Which means you answer every question honestly and clearly.

And if it turned out that you were accused wrongly, justice will be on your side.

Did you get married to this little girl?

And bedded her and hit or didn't you.

Your honour I married her with her father's consent.

According to Allah's and his prophet's norms, it's neither a vice nor forbidden.

And who told you that this is Allah's and his prophet's norms?

What do you mean who told me!

Her father and I went to the mosque with two witnesses.

They attended the signing of the contract and we recited Al-Fatihah (Qura'anic Chapter).

You are accused here of committing a crime against this child!

Answer me!

Did you sleep with her or not?

This thing is between a man and his wife, not your business.

You obviously refuse to cooperate with the court.

And this will elongate the case, same goes to your imprisonment.

Listen your honour, I don't come from the streets, I come from a tribe.

I married her with her father's consent, tell me what's my crime!

Can you just tell me what's the crime?

Do you agree on this marriage?

Why are you humiliating us like this, I gave my daughter like everyone else.

How old is your daughter?

She's 13 years old.

But she doesn't seem like a 13 years old.

What's wrong with my dad?

Don't be afraid.

Help him.

The meeting is suspended.

- Are you happy of what you did? - You're not allowed to be here or talk to her.

Don't be afraid, everything will be fine, ok?

A young Yemeni girls rebels against... Nojoom!

Look! It's you on TV!

Nojood, aged 10, pressed charges against her father.

Who married her forcibly to a man in his 30s.

Mum! Come see! Nojoom is on TV.

Turn off the TV immediately!

Why?! Nojoom is on TV!

A young Yemeni girl,

pressed charges against her father to the court.

A girl? Pressing charges against her father?

If she was my own daughter I would have slaughtered her!

You Yemenis, everything's allowed, everything's expected of you.

Get up!

Enough, take the cattle!

Get up.

Hey.

Yes. Yes.

No, everything's fine.

Yes.

"The child Nojoom her case is against her husband..."

Hopefully today you're better.

Thanks to Allah.

How old is your daughter?

I don't know.

How don't you know your daughter's age?

Your honour we don't read or write.

How can we know.

Even if you can't write or there isn't recording or birth certificate.

How could you give your daughter before reaching adulthood?

Everyone in the village have daughters her age, and they're giving them to marriage.

No one's prosecuting them, or addressing them ...

or punish them, and I ...

I endured all kinds of misfortunes.

I endured tragedies because of them.

Brother, he's her father, he's free to do with her what her wants.

Please don't interrupt him, continue.

What do you mean by tragedies?

I gave her to marriage because I was afraid.

Afraid of what?

I can't talk, your honour.

My dignity won't let me.

Everyone, we must continue the session privately.

According to the father's demand.

Please, everyone out.

Please, everyone out.

There you go, you can now finish.

I gave her away, your honour.

I was afraid that someone might use her.

All this happened to me.

When I was living with my rightful dignity back in the village.

Who are you?!

Who allowed you in?!

Greetings Sheikh (village elder) This is our Sheikh.

With what right?

With what right did you trespass the rights of a member of my village?

And imprison him, and question him!

Leave them.

Welcome Sheikh to the court.

Can you please and your men take a seat.

The greeting is for you.

You call this a court, judge?

Trespassing the rights of people, and imprisoning them for no reason?

And you call it a court!

Listen,

I'll get back Adel now, him and his wife.

And take them to the village.

And you... you and I will have another talk.

We don't trespass the rights of anyone.

In the contrary,

we try to get this child her rights back.

Who had her rights violated.

Because of the ignorance of her father and husband.

Will you please sit down and attend this session

and hear what the father wanted to say before you enter?

Get out.

There, you may talk.

Back when I was living in prime and peace.

And comfortable, in my village ...

There, this is the cow ...

... that I bought.

Here you go. Ma Sha'a Allah (sign of please)

Why's my daughter sleeping here, what's wrong with her?

Najla!

Najla my daughter I told you to take care of her.

- May Allah forgive you. - May Allah forgive me for leaving my childern.

My daughter! What's wrong? Najla!

Najla! Najla! What's wrong? Najla!

- Mum! - Who did this to you?!

Najla! Najla, who did this to you?!

Hussien's son raped me!

Son of Hussien?!

Wait! Where are you going?

I swear I'll go kill him, I swear!

What kill?! You kill him then his family will kill you.

And your sons will take revenge, and then we're lost!

Then what do you want? You want me to watch my stained honour?

And remain a joke among people?

I swear with God's name I'll kill him!

Please, listen, Go to the Sheikh (village elder)

And he'll find a solution for this misfortune we're in!

Please, go to him. You please move away!

Sheikh,

I beg you Sheikh, I put this against the Son of Hussein!

Calm down, what happened?

He assaulted my daughter, Sheikh! He assaulted her!

- Son of Hussein assaulted your daughter?! - Yes!

He seized the opportunity of my absence, and did what he did!

This is a matter of honour, and I'm not letting go even at the cost of my own head.

Continue your story.

- Greetings - Greetings.

What is it Sheikh? Why did you request for my at this night?

Sit, we'll talk about it.

And why didn't you greet back, we're still friends!

Ask your son.

Ask your son who did his awful doing!

I swear if not for this place under this roof and for respect of the Sheikh,

I would have killed you and your son!

Calm down, Ahmad!

Listen, Hussein.

Seems like you didn't bring your son up very well.

Your son, Hussein, he assaulted Ahmad's honour.

And Ahmad's honour, is the honour of the whole village!

Listen brother Ahmad ...

if what's been said is true,

then only to be done is what satisfies you, and I'm up to it!

I judge what's next.

Two cows.

One, is for the satisfaction of brother Ahmad.

And one for his daughter, and your son will marry his daughter.

And a dowry and conditions, doubled!

And I'm honoured with what you judged, Sheikh!

And then rumors spread, your honour.

They spread a lot around the village.

And my daughter got married, not virgin.

My reputation and honour were stained.

And I've become the father of the bad girl.

While the actual criminal was being left alone.

No one spoke to him.

I had to move away.

And leave the village.

And sell what I had from lands and goods.

See what girls do to us.

Because of them we had to leave behind our money and goods and all that we had from lands.

And cows and houses.

And to where? God knows!

Was right he who said "The one who brings girls ..."

- "... is disobedient of his parents" (a phrase that denotes wrong doing in general). - The proverb says (the woman is a shame).

- Why are they staring at us like this? - Man, tell your women to get covered.

Get covered!

- And me. - You, and you.

- I'm a builder. - Get up, get up.

- I'm a builder. - And you.

Ok, get up.

Enough, enough.

Dad! Sami took my bread,

I'm hungry and there's no more bread.

I'm making them out of what I can with what your dad's providing.

Where's the disobedient of his parents! (phrase explained)

Listen, it's been two months and still didn't pay rental.

But, for the sake of these kids, I give you two days.

If you don't pay by then, all your furniture are to be out in the streets!

Do you hear me?

See you.

It's been months and we're looking for jobs.

And still we can't find.

And the money we had from our village.

We consumed it all in house expenses, for you.

We don't even have enough to eat or drink.

- For the sake of God, we don't have what to eat. - May God give you.

We don't have what to eat.

- May God give you. - May God bless you.

- We don't have enough for lunch. - May God help you.

- Please. - Forgive me, go.

This is what we earned.

Come on get up, get up girls.

Come on Nojoom get up, and beg with us.

Look! I bought with your money a pack of gum and this is a part of the profit!

If I get everyday like today I'll buy you the house of your dreams.

"The road is far, the road is far ..."

Shut up.

Your siblings are asleep! Go to bed!

Whatever's good is a solution.

What is it.

Someone came to betroth Nojood.

Who's he?

Someone from a respected tribe, and respectable himself!

And is he willing to wait for Nojoom to grow up?

How many times did I tell you? Her name is Nojood!

And the proverb says "Give away the 8 years aged girl, and it's guaranteed" (partially literal translation).

And about Sami, we found him someone to take him abroad and give him work.

- Where will he go? - Saudi Arabia.

And every month he'll be sending us a good amount of money.

We're sorry for what happened to you and your family.

And we understand the hardships you had to undergo.

But this isn't an excuse for you to give away your daughter for marriage at this age.

Brother Adel.

Have you had your marriage including bedding this child or not?

Yes, I slept with her! My wife! Anything wrong with it?

So you admit having a sexual intercourse with her while still being a minor?!

Doesn't this woman feel ashamed of herself? What does she have to do with us?

Can't you see that she's still a child?

The proverb says "Give away the 8 years aged girl, and it's guaranteed" (explained).

And there are many people who give away their daughters for marriage at this age.

And no one's addressing them!

This is the proverb of the ignorant.

What's going on? Who's this?

This is my son.

In developing countries, 70,000 little girls ...

... are killed.

And Yemen holds the major share.

All to blame the marriage of minors.

Today we're very lucky! That Nojoom is with us in the hall.

We're lucky that she didn't die.

Because of hemorrhage, or early labor.

Are you aware that you are committing a crime?

Your children are your responsibility.

Even what this mister did, is not right legally.

Simply, Nojoom is not ready for marriage.

Neither physically, nor mentally.

She's still a child, and this way we're going to waste the best years of her life.

How can a child understand the responsibility of a house, or a house or a family.

Nojoom's case is not special, but we ask you to not sentence her to death.

I have nothing to add.

And how should he know about all this?

Our mothers and ourselves got married young.

And these are our customs and traditions.

And you have no right to imprison him and ruin his reputation with no validity.

True is what you said, I told you I'm not alone.

There, our Sheikh knows about customs and tribal acts better than you.

And then again, this marriage was according to Allah's and his prophet's norms.

Have you studied anything about Allah's legislation and his prophet's norms about which you've been talking?

I'm a pastoral, I can't read or write but this is what I'm hearing.

Since you don't know, let me explain to you.

According to Allah's legislation and the prophet's norms.

This little girl's marriage is void.

And taking advantage of her is one of biggest crimes.

It's true that we don't have a law that forbids minors marriage.

But this case we should resolve it with our conscience.

The conscience of every living human, who feels responsibility.

The basis of Sharia (Islamic legislation), is to stop what's bad,

and we must defend every victim.

Disregarding Age.

It's time, Sheikh.

It's time to notice the danger of some customs and traditions,

that rule our lives.

And get rid of this ignorance, that blinds the guilty.

And lets him commit all his crimes easily and without sense.

In the name of customs and traditions.

And in the name of the religion.

Now, Sheikh, it's in your hands.

If this child came to you seeking protection and justice.

Weren't you going to give her protection and justice.

As a responsible person, who has conscience.

Don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid my daughter, tell me.

Do you want to go back home with this person?

- No! No! - That's it.

Then it is solved your honour.

- Adel. - Yes, Sheikh.

Divorce this girl.

- But Sheikh ... - Divorce this girl!

Fine, whatever you say.

The court ruled the divorce of the child Nojoom from Adel.

Even though this marriage was basically void.

The meeting rose.

And what brought you, my son?

There! Because of her our reputation reached Saudi Arabia!

I feel humiliation and shame everywhere!

Today's news uncle, the child Nojoom won against her father and husband.

The youngest wife in the world, the court rules her divorce.

"The youngest wife in the world, the court rules her divorce".