Detained Arab was on his fourth 'marriage trip'

It was during his fourth attempt at marriage that the Arab national Syed Hilal Hamoodi (46) was detained by police on Sunday night. He was caught him when he was allegedly paying huge amounts to a minor girl's parents for the marriage.A senior police officer of South Zone said preliminary investigation revealed that Syed Hilal Hamoodi, a native of Sharjah had visited the Old City thrice. "During interrogation, the Arab national said he approached a middleman who allegedly arranges minor girls for marriage to Arabs persons, by paying `15,000," the officer said. Though the police suspect the girl is a minor, her parents maintain she is of 22 years as per government documents. AS Mohammed Ismail, assistant commissioner of police, Santhoshnagar division said they are awaiting reports of the agedetermination test from the Osmania General Hospital. "Once we receive the report, we will initiate proper action on the Arab national," the ACP said. Hamoodi had reportedly taken shelter at the girl's house. Police said they had received the tipoff about Hamoodi after keeping vigil on select lodges and hotels in Moin Bagh at Santoshnagar where he had recently married another girl. The Arab national came to the city on a visiting visa, police said. The Arab Saga"Arabs nationals only prefer minor girls and virgins from the Old city. They pay huge amounts to the girl's parents with assistance from middlemen or religious clerics. Married wealthy sheikhs particularly from Gulf nations come to the city and stay in hotels. They contact middlemen who fix a safe place to introduce girls from poor families. In most cases, the middlemen take half the 'mehr' (bride price) given at the time of nikah," said Jameela Nishat, chief functionary of Women's Resource and Welfare Association. Her NGO organises camps to create awareness among parents and minor girls about the illegal activity.The whole system operates through a welloiled network involving political leaders, travel agents, hotel owners, middlemen and the qazi who marries off these minor girls. "The situation has improved a bit with minor girls opposing to follow the trend. Recently, a minor girl had escaped the clutches of an Arab national and informed local police. She was saved after police arrested an octogenarian who tried to marry her forcibly," Jameela added. The illegal activity of fixedterm matrimony is taking place in Baba Nagar, Barkas, Idi Bazaar, Sultan Shahi, Akaramnagar, Hasan Nagar, Sulthansahi, Narashamannagar areas of the Old City. But incidents come to light only when the Arab national offers less amount to the girl's parents than promised. According to a report, about 33 marriages between old sheikhs and young girls are conducted every month. "There will be no end of this crime until the government or police create a database of visiting Arab nationals and their departure details. We found that poverty, increasing dowry system and illiterate parents are the main reasons for this practice. Earlier, the Arabs reportedly took brides to their countries where the girls ended up becoming maids and were subjected to untold miseries. The practice stopped when Gulf nations restricted their citizens from bringing home a foreign bride unless they took prior permission from authorities. That is why Arab nationals now choose contract marriages," said Noorjahan, coordinator of Social Empowerment of Women and COVA Kasturba Gandhi Peace Centre.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com