SAUDI ARABIA: CHILD BRIDE TURNED OVER TO 80-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND
(ANSAmed) - AL-LAITH, AUGUST 25 - A 10-year-old bride was
returned last Sunday to her 80-year-old husband by her father
who discovered her at the home of her aunt with whom she has
been hiding for around 10 days.
A Saudi local newspaper said the husband, who denies he is 80
in spite of claims by the girl's family, accused the aunt of
meddling in his affairs. "My marriage is not against Shariah.
It included the elements of acceptance and response by the
father of the bride," he said.
He added that he had been engaged to his wifés elder sister
and that this broke off as she wanted to continue with her
education. "In light of this, her father offered his younger
daughter. I was allowed to have a look at her according to
Shariah and found her acceptable," he said.
Maatouq Al-Abdullah, a member of the National Society for
Human Rights (NSHR), said there is no system in place regulating
the marriage of young girls, something that he said results in
adverse psychological, health and social effects.
"Such marriages are considered a gross violation of charters
on the rights of children, which the Kingdom has signed and
which set the age of adulthood at 18," he added. (ANSAmed).
2009-08-26 13:42