Maria Hertogh was born in Java in 1937 to Dutch parents but was left in the care of a Muslim woman during World War 2. In 1949, her biological parents found her and wanted her back, but the Muslim woman appealed and was granted custody. Maria married a Malay teacher at age 13 in 1950, but the marriage was not recognized. She was returned to her biological parents and placed in a convent. Muslims were angered by the court decisions, and riots broke out in December 1950 when another appeal was rejected, killing 18 people and injuring 173 others.