Jakarta: Indonesian-American model Manohara Odelia has described her 2008 marriage to Malaysian prince Tuanku Muhammad Fakhri Petra as “forced, non-consensual, and illegal.” She issued a strong statement on Instagram, asking media and digital platforms not to portray her as the prince’s “ex-wife.” She was only 16 years old at the time.
Forced marriage and control at the age of 16
Odelia clarified that her marriage was neither legal nor consensual. Being a minor, she lacked the capacity to make her own decisions and faced coercion, strict control, and isolation. She urged the media and digital platforms such as Google and Wikipedia to present her story accurately and ethically, rather than portraying it as a voluntary adult marriage.
She stated, “What happened during my teenage years was not a romantic or consensual relationship, nor a legal marriage. It was never a relationship I desired, accepted, or entered into of my own free will.” She specifically rejected the term “mantan istri,” which implies a legal adult marriage.
Abuse and Dramatic Escape
According to Odelia, her life in the Kelantan palace was characterized by constant surveillance, limited contact with her parents, and physical and sexual abuse. She was punished for disobeying palace rules.
In 2009, during a state visit, she escaped from a hotel in Singapore and returned safely to Indonesia with the help of her mother, local authorities, and the US Embassy. Since then, she has repeatedly spoken out against child marriage and abuse and urged the media to present her story accurately and ethically.