Arab News again picks up the story of child marriages that cannot be condoned or supported by religious law. Here the case is that of an eight-year-old in the strongly conservative, Nejdi city of Unaizah, northeast of Riyadh.
Mother asks court to annul marriage of 8-year-old girl
UNAIZAH: In order to settle his debts, a Saudi father here married his eight-year-old daughter to a man in his 50s, who already has two wives, a local newspaper reported yesterday.
Details of the case came to light when the mother of the girl took it to the court calling for an abrogation of the marriage contract. The mother, who is estranged from the father, urged all concerned parties and the National Society for Human Rights to support her in canceling the marriage.
“This is an unmatched marriage, which will deprive our daughter of her childhood,” the mother said.
A source at the court said this is not the first case of its kind. He added that the case is further complicated due to the parents not being on speaking terms and because the girl was not consulted.
A court in Asir is currently considering a similar case in which a man married his 10-year-old daughter to a man in his 70s for SR170,000.
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August:13:2008 - 01:40
There are way too many cases like these lately. Or more accurately being covered by the media. I hope this prompts the government to enact a minimum age and a requirement and that girls are asked directly for consent by the government official conducting the wedding. Currently the process only requires the father or guardian to give consent at the official signing of the marriage contract. There are good ways to perform this without impacting the ultra conservative traditions of some tribes.