In Bashkortostan, an unusual marriage unfolded when two elderly residents tied the knot under Sharia law, a report carried by RIA Novosti noted. The ceremony took place at a local hostel for the elderly and disabled, where Khalaf Khabilyarov, then 70 years old, and Zugra Tagirova, aged 88, became spouses.
Tagirova had previously lived in Ukraine, and she endured significant hardship during the fighting in the country. After several days of hiding in forests and facing fear from the conflict, she was found by local soldiers who, at her request, arranged for her return to Bashkortostan, the region where she was born and raised.
Following her return, Tagirova visited the Bashkir hostel where Khabilyarov happened to notice her. Before long, he asked for her hand in marriage, and the local mullah conducted the wedding ceremony.
The director of the institution reported that the newlyweds were provided with a private room for their stay and described their celebration as joyful, with the sense of youth that comes with any first joyful holiday together.
Meanwhile, a separate note from the region mentioned another remarkable relationship: a pair of 77-year-old retirees who had previously lived in a nursing home in England reportedly fell in love and decided to marry, highlighting how human connections can blossom across generations and borders (as reported by various outlets).