DID THE 11-YEAR-OLD ‘ESCAPED CHILD BRIDE’ MAKE UP HER STORY? PARENTS CLAIM THEY DID NOT TRY TO MARRY HER OFF

You sure must remember the story of the little 11 year-old girl, Nada al- Ahdal who ran away from home claiming she was been forced into child marriage by her parents. Yea, well the parents have raised their voices in defence of themselves saying they never did anything of such. But this adorable girl is still standing her grounds. Who do you believe? Did she make up her story? Is she telling the whole truth.

Nada al-Ahdal claimed she was only saved after her uncle intervened and threatened to kill herself if they ever force her into marriage via a YouTube clip watched by millions of viewers.

Children's rights group Seyaj says parents did not try to marry her off. Her Parents also deny wanting to do so - but Nada still stands by her story

Questions are now being raised about the authenticity of the claims by Nada al-Ahdal as Yemen's leading children’s rights group Seyaj believes portions of the girl’s story were made up.

But in a crunch meeting that saw Nada face her parents, the girl tearfully asked a mediator, Yemen Women's Union president Ramzia Al-Eryani: ‘Why do you believe them and don't believe me?’

To lend support to the little girl’s story, it is claimed that at a certain time, a Yemeni expatriate living in Saudi Arabia asked her parents if he could marry her, they were said to have readily agreed.

Whether Nada's claims are true or not, the practice of marrying young girls is widespread in Yemen.

'We need to protect this child' Ramzia Al-Eryani, Yemen Women's Union president said.

Following the meeting, which saw Nada and her uncle maintain that her story was definitely true, an agreement was fixed that means Nada, her parents and uncle are going to move in together.

Ms Al-Eryani has been appointed Nada's temporary legal guardian until the dispute was settled.

This story has drawn the attention of international rights groups seeking to pressure the government to outlaw child marriages.

Yemen's gripping poverty plays a role in hindering efforts to stamp out the practice, as poor families find themselves unable to say no to bride-prices in the hundreds of dollars for their daughters.

More than a quarter of Yemen's females marry before the age of 15, according to a report in 2010 by the Social Affairs Ministry.

Tribal custom also plays a role, including the belief that a young bride can be shaped into an obedient wife, bear more children and be kept away from temptation.