07/05/2026
By now we are aware of the video circulating online about a 46yr old man who has married a 12 year old girl and goes ahead to hid his reasoning behind ‘it’s acceptable in his religion’
A 12 year old child is still in critical stages of emotional, psychological, cognitive, and identity development. At that age, the brain is still developing decision making capacity, emotional regulation, boundaries, self understanding, and the ability to fully process risk, power, manipulation, and long term consequences.
A relationship between a 46 year old adult and a 12 year old child is not an equal relationship. There is an extreme imbalance in power, age, emotional development, authority, and vulnerability. A child cannot meaningfully consent to an adult relationship.
From a psychological perspective, an adult seeking emotional, relational, or sexual involvement with a child raises serious concerns around boundaries, psychological functioning, control dynamics, distorted beliefs, and exploitation of vulnerability. Religion, culture, or social justification should never be used to normalize harm toward children.
For the child, the impact can be deeply traumatic. Even when fear, confusion, conditioning, or pressure silence outward resistance, the psychological effects can remain long term. These experiences can contribute to:
• Emotional trauma
• Anxiety and chronic fear
• Depression and emotional withdrawal
• Confusion around safety, love, and boundaries
• Loss of childhood and identity disruption
• Shame, helplessness, and low self worth
• Difficulty trusting others later in life
• Complex trauma responses
• Increased vulnerability to future abuse
Pregnancy at such a young age can also intensify psychological distress, fear, isolation, and emotional overwhelm while the child is still developmentally unequipped for the emotional and physical realities of motherhood.
Protecting children is not an attack on culture or religion. It is a responsibility. Mental health conversations must include the psychological harm caused when children are exposed to exploitation, coercion, abuse, and premature adult roles before they are emotionally or psychologically capable of carrying them.
Children deserve safety, protection, education, emotional development, and the right to remain children.
At MyAfya Africa, we recognize the deep psychological impact that abuse, exploitation, and trauma can have on children, adolescents, and families. We offer mental health support services aimed at helping individuals process trauma, rebuild emotional safety, and begin healing in supportive and psychologically informed spaces.
🌍 www.myafyaafrica.com
📩 Reach out to learn more about available mental health support services.
