Marry a child and go to jail, Gambian president tells citizens

Gambia: President of Gambian, Yahya Jammeh on Wednesday announced a ban on child marriage in the predominantly Muslim country, threatening a 20 years jail sentence for anyone found guilty of the new rules. Speaking to a group of Muslim elders in Banjul, Jammeh said: 

"As from today, Jul 6, child marriage is illegal and is banned in Gambia."

"Anyone who marries a girl under 18 years will spend 20 years in jail. The girls' parents would spend 21 years in jail and anyone who knows about it and fails to report the matter to the authorities would spend 10 years in jail," he added.

"The Imam and those that preside over the marriage ceremony would also be sent to jail. If you want to know whether what I am saying is true or not, try it tomorrow and see."

Jammeh also went on to instruct the country's lawmakers to pass bill reflecting the new ban before Jul 21.