Eight year old files for divorce in Saudi Arabia
By coffeechat
@coffeechat (1961)
New Zealand
August 24, 2008 8:20am CST
The Saudi newspaper al-Watan said the girl had been married off to the man by her father without her knowledge.
The child's mother is thought to be pushing for the marriage to be annulled - though the father opposes the move.
The full story is carried by the well respected British Broadcasting corporation here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7579616.stm
They also mention a case in Tunisia where divorce was granted.
This seems to be fairly prevalent in Islamic societies. Do share your views, thoughts and information you may have pertinent to this form of child abuse in Islamic societies.
7 people like this
15 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I strongly suspect at least some Muslim authorities have come out against such practices as child marriage. For Islam to surive the modern Muslims will have to triumph over those still living in the 7th century of their minds.
3 people like this
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
24 Aug 08
True! It is a well known fact that the founder of Islamic religion, the Prophet Mohammed (may peace and benevolence be upon his soul) contracted a marriage with Ayesha at age 6 and consummated the marriage when she was 9 years old.
Please see the translation of the corresponding Hadith:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/062.sbt.html#007.062.065
With this Prophetic leadership, child marriages are not only accepted in Islam but actively pursued.
1 person likes this
@kishanganj (163)
• India
24 Aug 08
It is wrong to blame the religion as there is nothing in Islam which says that marry off a eight year old girl or any other young kids.It is the people who misinterpret the religion and use it for their own purpose.it was wrong for the father as well as the man who married the kid to do what they have done.It happens among all those people who are ignorant.Be it a western society ( who can forget the notorius Austrian case where a father kept his own daughter locked up for 23 years and abused her) or an Islamic society.It is wrong to single out Islamic societies.
2 people like this
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
24 Aug 08
I agree with you that it is wrong to blame the religion. The life of the Prophet Mohammed has a definite influence on practitioners of Islamic religion. It is indeed true that he married Aisha when she was six and he was fifty two and consummated the marriage three years later.
Bukhari is a famous exponent who rules that woman is the property - first of the father / brother and then of the husband.
These Hadiths have had a significant bearing on the laws and practices in Islamic countries. eg Zina and Hudood.
The Austrian case has been universally condemned and the father put away in jail for life. You are absolutely right in condemning this case.
We will all acknowledge that the law and practices, in many Islamic countries need to be reformed when it comes to protection of the rights of women and female children.
1 person likes this
@mynameismine (771)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I understand that some areas of the world through religions or cultures have arranged marriages and have since the beginning of time. But at 8 years old? Come on! What in the world was the father thinking.
It had to have been greed that ignorance that made him make that choice cause no clear minded person would have done that. I hope that this "marriage" can be erased and does not cause her anymore hardship when she gets older and is really ready for marriage.
1 person likes this
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
25 Aug 08
Hi Myna and thank you for your comments and thoughts. I do agree with you. It must be noted that Islamic religious texts do sanction such arrangements. Among other quotes this from Bukhari who has pontificated at length on Nikah (marriage) is the most telling:
Volume 7, Book 62, Number 67:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission)."
This really does provide the philosophical framework for 55 year old men to marry an 8 year old girl. The girl's silence being construed as assent.
What do you think?
1 person likes this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
25 Aug 08
omg coffeechat!! it REALLY says that?! so a CHILD who is too scared to know when she has to say NO, is accepted as saying YES?!
you know it seems like every day i learn something new and HORRIBLY DISGUSTING about religions..and it sure as hell seems more often than not, that religion is Islamic!
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
24 Aug 08
It's ok, there are some amreican guys who don't know their married either, lol.
ok, all joking aside. I can't comment too much because it is a society that I just don't undestand. I couldn't imagine being not only married that young but not even knowing you were going to be married.
1 person likes this
@spriggan (169)
• Australia
28 Sep 08
you talk about marriage
in the bible it says clearly it was ok to rape "3 years old girls" rape,not even marriage,but you seem to be silent about that.
also do you know when california raised the marriage age to 10? 1989
i talked about this stuff in another discussion
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1723593.aspx
go ahead and read.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
24 Aug 08
This is a cultural practice which goes against the grain of modern ways. I think that this practice of child marriage should be considered very seriously by the cultures that still practice them. The world has changed a lot, after all.
1 person likes this
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
26 Aug 08
And indeed it has changed since the time of Mohammed the prophet. Thank you for the post.
@hacker4ever (297)
• Philippines
24 Aug 08
That's how controversial middle east people are. I've also saw the very similar news in CNN about a 10-year-old female kid calling a divorce in Yemen calling for a divorce in her "husband" whose age is way too far than hers. The young girl also went public to campaign on not to marry young children. As far as I could remember about this, the young girl reasoned out that she was beaten by her husband which led her for a divorce. Her mother was asked also if why did she let her young child to be married with a very mature husband and the mother said that she was forced to let her daughter to marry him because of dowries sent to them when they were suffering from financial crisis.
This is purely gross.. I don't care if it's written in their culture but I think it's really not appropriate. Ugh..
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
24 Aug 08
That first of all is child abuse. A child should not be forced into marriage, and shame on the girls father for doing that to her. If the girl wants a divorce, then she should automatically be granted it. Oh course, you know what I will say, she should not have been getting married or forced into it to begin with.
1 person likes this
@dementia88 (900)
• United States
25 Aug 08
8 years old that just saddens me. i have an 8 year old and i couldnt imagine her married. but worse is that she didnt even know about it.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
25 Aug 08
I have an eight year old too! He is a boy - but I cannot imagine him getting married whether he has been informed or not.
Thanks for the comment.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
24 Aug 08
I feel very sorry for the 8 year old girl being married to a 50 year old man! I hope that the marriage can be annulled like her mother would like. Perhaps the court will grant a divorce. In the news paper article mentions an 8 year old girl from Yemen married a 28 year old man. I think that children are not ready for marriage. They should be at school learning and socializing. I think that 16 or 18 would be the youngest age that it is right to get married. I think that if marriage is arranged the couple should be similar ages like 16 and 20 or 18 and 25. They should not be children or a child and a grown up. That is child abuse and I hope that it stops soon.
1 person likes this
@Adelida2233 (1005)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I'm glad I live in a country where laws are no based on 7th century Islamic scripture. That's absolutely ridiculous, but in many Islamic countries, nothing will be done as it is a widely known and practiced custom, regardless of how immoral it is.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
25 Aug 08
How very fatalistic and true! Thank you for your response.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi ,
I dont know what to really say here , but I think that is such a young age . I know it is common to be married off in most countries , but that age is young , and she should have a say so . Many people still have a say so . I will check out the link now.
1 person likes this
@amitsh8888 (362)
• India
25 Sep 08
Unbeliavle News ! Need education support to them in ISLAMIC Sociaty for Social Awareness
@Darkabyss (27)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
I think this is very wrong as i believe in the person to make their own choices on who they should marry. This is definately considered a form of child abuse due to the fact that the girl is so young.
