Sixteen-Yr-Old Girl dies weeks after wedding

A 16-year-old girl has been murdered in the southern Azerbaijani city of Masalli just two weeks after illegally being wed. The girl’s 19-year-old husband has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has denied his guilt.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs released a statement on Wednesday saying that the body of Fatima Gambarova was delivered to the district hospital with signs of violence earlier that day.

The ministry said that a forensic examination found injuries on Gambarova’s neck, right arm, and back, and suggested she was strangled.

The case has sparked a heated discussion in Azerbaijan over the practice of early marriages. Pictures of the couple’s wedding were spread widely online with many dubbing it ‘the children’s wedding’, as both the bride and the groom looked young.

According to the Interior Ministry, Gambarova married 19-year-old Iman Mammadov two weeks before her death.

Their statement said Mammadov was suspected of strangling Gambarova ‘during a dispute arising out of personal relationships’, however, during questioning, Mamedov denied committing the crime.

Vazir Huseynov, a representative of Masalli District Council, told Meydan TV on Wednesday that Gambarova was living with her grandparents. Huseynov reportedly said that her parents had divorced and that her mother had re-married.

Women’s rights activist Zumrud Yaghmur told OC Media that according to her source in Masalli, Gambarova and Mammadov had been engaged for two years and had constant conflicts in their relationships.

Yagmur said that Gambarova’s funeral took place on Thursday morning.

Elgun Safarov, head of the Information and Analytical Research Department of the State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs, told reporters on Wednesday that the committee was investigating the case.

He also noted that Azerbaijan had established a monitoring mechanism to protect children’s rights.

‘Any neglect, violence, or cruel treatment of children is inadmissible and, in such cases, those responsible should be held accountable under the law.’

‘According to Azerbaijan’s legislation and international conventions, in particular, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, minors are registered as children and the involvement of children in marriage is inadmissible. In this regard, criminal liability is provided’, he said.

Under Azerbaijani law, only those aged 18 and above can get married.

Source: (Daily independent)

Kobe Bryant's widow breaks silence...

Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa, has made her first comments since the helicopter crash that killed the basketball star, one of their daughters and seven others last Sunday.

In a post on Instagram with a family photo, she said she was "completely devastated" and that there were not "enough words to describe our pain".

The couple had four daughters including Gianna, 13, who died in the crash.

There has been no word yet on funeral arrangements.

The cause of the crash in foggy weather west of Los Angeles is still being investigated. Bryant was on his way to coach his daughter's basketball team in a local youth tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy.

In her post, Vanessa also said: "We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe - the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna - a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri."

She added: "I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon. I'm not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it's impossible to imagine life without them."

She also thanked people for their support, and announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash, the Mamba Sports Foundation.

The other victims included the pilot, two other 13-year-old girls involved in the tournament, three of their parents and another coach.

Buhari summons security chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari today summoned military commanders and heads of security agencies at the presidential villa in Abuja, the nation's capital.

The meeting according to reliable sources close to the presidency was to review the efforts of the heads of the various security agencies over the security situation across the country.

Meanwhile, calls for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has become very trendy on social media. Many Nigerians on Facebook and Twitter have joined the Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe to express anger over the killings and kidnappings of innocent citizens across the country and called for the change of baton in the various security apparatuses of the country.

Jonathan meets Buhari in Abuja

Former President Goodluck Jonathan today met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Though details of the visit was not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the level of insecurity across the country and calls for the resignation of the president over what his critics termed as: "poor handling of the security situation across the country."