Fleeing from forced marriage, girl seeks refuge in USA

Barrister Rudolf B. Takem, has deposited an affidavit in support of one Johana Tawiasem Etah, against her marriage to a certain rich man, known as ‘Pa’ Michael Eyong.

Rudolf B. Takem Esq, a legal adviser and member of the Human Rights Defence Group, HRDG, in the Southwest Region, , has taken an oath to secure a refugee status and asylum for Johana Tawiasem Etah who is reportedly in the United States of America.

Tawiasem Etah, according to the affidavit by Barrister Takem, had been traumatised having been subjected to inhumane and barbaric treatment including flogging she received from her family.

According to Barrister Takem, Tawiasem Etah’s father had collected the sum of FCFA 175,000 from the said ‘Pa’ Eyong, to treat himself during a period of illness in 2001. In the course of the transaction, Tawiasem Etah’s father had an agreement with the then septuagenarian Eyong on the account that Etah will be betrothed to him (Eyong) when she comes of age.

Upon coming of age and upon her graduation from the University of Buea in 2012, Etah rejected the idea of marrying Eyong whom she considered to be “too old to be her grandfather,” and who already had six wives (two of them of late).

But Etah’s father and her uncles claimed they had already received the dowry on her head, when Eyong started demanding for the girl, or his money which he said he had paid as bride price.

When all attempts to marry off Etah to Eyong failed, she was locked up at the police station for five days until the office of the HRDG intervened. According to Etah’s family, it has been the custom and practice of their people to marry off their daughters, hence she will not violate the custom.

Barrister Takem states that: “The US, which is the custodian of international laws and brain behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Freedom, has been asked to grant an asylum and a refugee status to Etah to protect her against any form of violence from her father and other kinsmen who have refused to see reasons with Etah.