Amid the bustling streets surrounding Hyderabad's historic Charminar, where the vibrant atmosphere and the aroma of Hyderabadi biryani fill the air, there lies a shadowy, clandestine business that thrives in the city's less visible corners. In this dark trade, young girls, often from impoverished families, are sold under the pretext of nikah (marriage) to wealthy Sheikhs from Gulf countries. What seems to be a legitimate union is, in fact, an exploitative practice that has persisted for years under various guises. This practice, known as "Sheikh marriages," is a modern manifestation of an ancient tradition known as Mutah marriages, which dates back centuries in Arab countries.
Historically, Mutah marriages were short-term, temporary unions entered into by wealthy Gulf nationals, especially merchants or those involved in long-distance travel or war. The term "Mutah" itself is derived from the Arabic word meaning "something that can be enjoyed," reflecting the temporary nature of these marriages. While this custom has largely faded from its place of origin, it has unfortunately gained new ground in Indian cities like Hyderabad, where poverty and desperation drive families into these exploitative arrangements.
A recent undercover investigation by AajTak shed light on the intricacies of this illegal practice. It revealed the extent to which such marriages have become a well-organized trade in Hyderabad, with specific neighborhoods like Shahin Nagar, Hassan Nagar, Yakutpura, Barkas, Charminar, and Vattapally acting as hotspots. These areas have become the focal point of Sheikh marriages, involving not just Gulf nationals but also individuals from Sudan, Somalia, and other African countries. The network is highly structured, involving multiple intermediaries, including agents, brokers, and even local women known as "aunties" or "brokernis," who track families in financial distress and help facilitate these marriages.
The process begins when agents, often with decades of experience in the business, scout potential brides from financially struggling families. The agents act as the first point of contact, liaising with their counterparts in the Gulf countries, who are looking for young, often virginal girls for their temporary marriages. These agents share photos of the girls with Sheikhs, who then select potential brides based on these pictures. This cycle becomes especially rampant during Ramadan, when the demand for such marriages increases as Sheikhs, and their families, return from pilgrimage or business trips.
Once a Sheikh expresses interest in a particular girl, local brokers arrange an in-person meeting, which is often staged in beauty parlours or, in some cases, the homes of the girls. During this meeting, the girls are essentially paraded in front of the Sheikh, who makes his final selection. Afterward, an agreed-upon sum of money is handed over to the family, usually in advance. A nikah ceremony, which is a rushed and impersonal affair, is conducted, and the girl is taken either to a hotel or, in some cases, to a foreign country.
The exploitation doesn’t end there. Many of the girls are abandoned in hotels or sent overseas where they often become victims of sex trafficking or forced domestic labor. The agents and brokers involved in these arrangements earn a significant income from each "marriage." One agent, who has been involved in this trade for over two decades, claimed to make about Rs 50,000 (USD 600) for each marriage arranged. Given that they can arrange up to six such marriages in a month, the income from this illicit business is substantial.
In addition to earning money from the marriages themselves, the agents also facilitate other aspects of the transaction, including arranging passports, visas, and even forging age certificates to make the girls appear older than they are. Many of the Sheikhs involved in these marriages come from wealthier Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. Their official purpose for visiting India is often cited as medical treatment, a cover for their real intentions. These Sheikhs arrive on medical visas, a practice that is frequently used to obscure their true intentions and to avoid suspicion. Hospitals in India, particularly corporate ones, serve as destinations for these Sheikhs, further complicating the issue and making it harder to trace the origins of this human trafficking network.
The girls involved in these Sheikh marriages are mostly minors, many of whom come from families struggling with poverty and lack of resources. They are often lured into the arrangement by the promise of a better life abroad. However, once the nikah ceremony is completed, the reality becomes grim. These girls are abandoned shortly afterward, with some being trafficked abroad, where they are forced into slavery or domestic work. The psychological and physical toll on these girls is significant. Many of them develop health issues, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), as a result of their forced sexual exploitation. One agent confirmed that contraceptive pills are often provided to prevent pregnancies, but abortions are arranged if necessary, either in Hyderabad or abroad, to cover up the consequences of these exploitative marriages.
The brokers, especially the female ones, often find it easy to convince the families of these girls to participate in the trade. One broker explained that they simply present the marriage as a job opportunity, offering a large sum of money to the girl's family in exchange for her "services." These families, desperate to escape poverty, often consent without much hesitation. If any family resists, they are not forcibly coerced but simply bypassed. This makes it difficult for authorities to curb the practice, as the families often see it as a financial opportunity rather than an exploitation.
The emotional impact on these girls is devastating. Many develop a sense of worthlessness, their lives marked by trauma and neglect. Some girls end up in multiple marriages, often deceiving older Sheikhs through fake virginity tests. The girls’ lives are controlled by agents who dictate where they can go and what they can do. Their futures are often decided by the whims of wealthy men who see them as nothing more than commodities to be used and discarded.
In the rare instances where a Sheikh expresses interest in taking the girl to his home country, the agents arrange for visas and manage the logistical details. This often leads to the girl being trapped in a foreign country, where she has little to no control over her situation. These girls frequently end up in the hands of sex traffickers, where they become victims of modern slavery.
The authorities’ failure to take substantial action against these illegal marriages only perpetuates the cycle of abuse. Despite the efforts of local activists and journalists to bring attention to the issue, the business remains deeply embedded in the socio-economic fabric of certain communities in Hyderabad. The lack of strict regulations and enforcement of laws protecting minors leaves these girls vulnerable to ongoing exploitation.
This dark reality serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive legal reform, better monitoring of human trafficking networks, and more robust protection for vulnerable girls in impoverished families. Until then, the business of Sheikh marriages will continue to thrive in the shadows, with countless girls trapped in a cycle of exploitation and abuse, their lives forever altered by a system that values profit over human dignity.
