"It Doesn't Matter What She Wants"
A pre-teen bride in Romania fled her wedding on Saturday, underscoring a growing resistance among young gypsy women to patriarchal strictures. It also drew international attention to the government's turn-a-blind-eye attitude regarding child marriage among the Roma.
The bride in question was Ana-Maria Cioaba, daughter of a self-styled Transylvanian gypsy king. Her father had apparently planned for a grand celebration of his power and status -- three days of festivities, 12 roasted pigs, thousands of bottles of wine, and wide publicity. However, things went awry when Ana-Maria, who had objected tearfully to being married off to the 15-year-old son of another prosperous Roma family, fled the church mid-ceremony, cheered on by her bridesmaids.
She was brought back and the wedding continued, though the bridesmaids booed the groom afterwards and the bride herself continued to reject the marriage -- though she is now said to be "resigned." Loving father Florian Cioaba gave the impression of being more concerned about the public embarrassment than his daughter's feelings, and a family spokesperson reiterated that, according to tradition, the girl has no say in the matter whatsoever, adding that she might receive a beating for her defiance.
She will leave school and concentrate on her job as a wife...She will help her mother-in-law cook and clean and raise her children. It doesn't matter what she wants.
Human rights groups inside and outside the country are demanding action, and so is the EU's Baroness Emma Nicholson. Romania is hoping to join the EU in 2007, and this doesn't seem likely to boost its chances.
11:58:00 AM 
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