child bride
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An 8-year-old Yemeni girl who was forced to marry a man more than five times her age died from internal injuries sustained on her wedding night.

The girl, identified only as Rawan, died after suffering a tear to her genitals and severe bleeding. The girl's groom is believed to be over 40 years old.

Yemeni and Kuwaiti activists are asking police to arrest the groom and the girl's family to help send the message that the practice of marrying young girls to older men has to end.

Many bloggers were outraged by what happened to the young girl, UPI reported.

"[The groom] is an animal who deserved to be punished severely for his crime," according to blogger Angry Man. "All those who supported such a crime should also be punished."

Another blogger, Omar, wrote: "Rawan's family members are not humans. They do not deserve to have children."

A third blogger, Sad, sounded a little more understanding of the tradition. "Her family and her groom could have waited for some time before having this marriage," Sad wrote. "It was not fair at all and the marriage should not have happened even if some tribes believe that it is a good custom."

Sources: UPI, The Daily Mail