Iraqi man remarries for third time at 103 years old

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A man from Diwaniyah province married his third wife last week at the ripe age of 103, telling Rudaw’s Mustafa Goran on Thursday that he hopes to have children with his new wife, who is 66 years his junior.

Over a century old, Hajji Mikhelf Farhudi is father to nine daughters, six sons, and has around 400 grandchildren over four generations. His first wife passed away 23 years ago, and his second wife “left one night without alerting anyone,” according to Mikhelf himself. Mikhelf’s new bride is 37 years old.

“God willing we will have children, because she’s young. I want nothing from my children. All I want is for them to be healthy and for God to bless them. They’ve given me what I’ve wanted, and have kept me company,” Mikhelf said from Iraq’s central province.

Kadhim, Mikhelf’s eldest child, has followed in his father’s footsteps and taken it to another level, having been married 9 times and fathered 33 children. He’s 72 years old, and has 4 living wives at the moment.

“We are certain that death is coming, so we have always honored life. We must not be afraid, as we were not born to fear,” said Kadhim, adding “I’m proud to say I have 16 daughters, and I do not want to say the number of my sons because people would envy me.”