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A picture of two Egyptian children engaged to be married has triggered outrage.

Omar is 12 years old. His fiancee, and his cousin, Gharam, is 11.

The news was announced by Omar's father Nasser Hassan, at his eldest son's wedding.

At the wedding, held in a province about 75 miles north of Cairo, the guests didn't find it strange, with some telling Egypt's Al Watan newspaper that there was "nothing inappropriate," adding that it was only "an engagement, not a marriage".

Egyptian laws prohibit official registration for marriages for anyone under the age of 18.

But the practice remains prevalent. According to UNICEF, 17 percent of Egyptian girls are married before the age of 18, the vast majority of the unions taking place in rural areas.

The photos of the young couple - Omar in a blue suit, Gharam in a white dress and high heels, wearing a tiara - splashed across newspapers in the country and heightened the anger.

— Om El Banat (@DaliaNewYork) " style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Criminals in marrying a 12 yrs old to an 11 yrs old. The lawless state of Egypt is bringing the country down. — Om El Banat (@DaliaNewYork)

Head of the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, Reda Eldanbouki reported the incident to the National Center for Childhood and Motherhood, a government agency.

The engagement "will only lead to an early marriage in which the girl will be deprived of equal chances to education, growth, and will isolate her from social spheres," he told The Washington Post.

— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) " style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post In case you thought an economic meltdown, sugar shortage and fascist military ruler weren't enough — Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy)

Omar's father, faced with the backlash of his decision, told local newspapers that he "is a free man and did nothing wrong".

The pair will get married when they reach the legal age, he insisted.