The images captured at a wedding in which the protagonists are two minors walking down the street while hanging on to the trunk of a truck sparked a wave of reactions online and raised questions about the respect of children’s rights in Romania in 2026.
A video material shared on Facebook, in which two brides and grooms who appear to be minors appear, made some people invoke God, while others appealed to the Police, Child Protection and other institutions of the Romanian state.
The images were redistributed by Gelu Duminică, a well-known sociologist, university professor and human rights activist.
He has consistently criticized abusive practices hidden behind the invocation of traditions and has publicly stood against early marriages between minors, which he considers incompatible with the fundamental rights of the child.
In the message accompanying the distribution of the video, Gelu Duminică draws attention to the responsibility of state institutions: “Such realities have no place in a world that wants to be civilized. I hope that state institutions apply the law in its letter and spirit. Because, for me, the state’s inability to react, prevent and apply the law is the big problem.”
The sociologist, named Ernie Roma, redistributed the images precisely to bring back to public attention a phenomenon that is gaining more and more scope and which the Romanian authorities seem to ignore.
The situation reported by Gelu Duminică is, unfortunately, not an isolated one. Over time, the “Adevărul” publication reported several similar cases, drawing attention to the fact that, in some situations, things exceeded any limits of human understanding. It has gotten to the point where some Roma families marry off their children at an extremely young age, three or four years old, making it a source of pride on social networks, and no institution empowered to ensure that children’s rights are respected intervenes firmly.
Such ceremonies are called “early marriages”, although they have no legal value and are not recognized by the Romanian state. It is, in reality, about traditional or religious ceremonies which, according to specialists and some members of the Roma community, can represent a form of abuse and are even described by some as a “barbarism” that should be stopped urgently.
However, although the Romanian state officially treats these situations as child protection issues and the competent institutions can report themselves, the reactions were often punctual and uneven, without a constant intervention.
How hundreds of girls from Romania get married every year with the approval of the judges. The “marriage on school benches” phenomenon
In this context, we remind you that, in 2025, Florin Manole, at that time Minister of Labor, who also publicly assumed his Roma origin, had extremely harsh reactions from the community, after he signed a bill against early marriages.
“There is no other way than the law, because ultimately, if there is no other barrier to abuse, the law must be such a barrier,” to point him then.
In Romania, the legal age for marriage is 18 years, but the Civil Code of Romania provides exceptions for minors over 16 years old, under strict conditions and only with a medical certificate, the consent of the parents or the guardian and the authorization of the guardianship court, which decides according to the best interests of the child.
“Child Protection, where are you?”
Returning to the video redistributed by Gelu Duminică, the images capture the moment when the procession started on the streets and show the two children, who seem to be no more than 10-12 years old, hanging on the front of a truck, almost “crucified”, to the happiness and favor of their parents who show off their wealth.
* “God forbid you say they are hanged. What have you to do with them to torture them like this?”
* “You say it takes them to the last road”
* “Child Protection, where are you?”
* “They have been together for 18 years.”
* “The police don’t report it??”
* “God forbid! I have never seen anything like this in my life! Why are you torturing them like this?
* “I thought they were dolls… God forbid, you wonder what else to make up… What is this, people? What does this all mean? What memories will the poor bride and groom have of their wedding?… The panic they went through hanging like that? I can’t believe such a thing…”
* “They replaced the wagon with the tractor head.”
* “Hello, police and child protection, what are you doing, sleeping, don’t you see these cases?”
* “God forbid such stupid people, they torture children and force them to marry for money!!”
* “The bridegroom doesn’t seem to have his certificate yet!”
* “When you say you’ve seen them all…and, oops, see this!”
* “What a couple????? There are two children tortured and stuck to a truck; it’s like they’ve been hit.”
* “You’re out of your mind, it’s like they’ve been caught stealing chickens.”
* “I didn’t even say they weren’t stuffed…”
* “Well done, congratulations! La anu can go to kindergarten together.”
* “Shame on the Romanian state that the Government of Romania and the Romanian Police allow such a thing.”
* “Yes, I’m a gypsy too and I’ve been to a lot of weddings, but since my mother made me.”
* “How can these children get married, together they are not 18 years old… The parents should be arrested and deprived of their rights…”, are just a few of the many comments left on the post.
