Debate over underage marriage rages in Saudi Arabia

By Abdel Wahab Al Saleh in Riyadh
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-02-11



				[Reem Al Bayyat] Saudi human rights advocates want to stop the marriage of under-aged girls in the kingdom.

[Reem Al Bayyat] Saudi human rights advocates want to stop the marriage of under-aged girls in the kingdom.

"Without mercy or compassion, he undressed amidst my screams. I felt the room become smaller ..."

That is how Malak, age 12, from the city of Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia recalled the story of her marriage, which had no preludes, except for a "barbarous rape", followed by the ambulance that took her to the emergency room.

The story of Malak’s marriage was repeated with Fatima, Rasha, Abeer, and most recently, the 'Onaiza girl' in central Saudi Arabia, a 12 year-old married to an 80-year-old man.

The debate over the marriage of underage girls still rages in Saudi Arabia. Recently, the debate was renewed when a mother filed a complaint with officials to convey the cries of her daughter, "Help me, I don't want him." This rattled the Saudi judiciary system, which lacks written laws on the issue and relies on sharia, interpretations of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council and some of the court judges.

Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country that has not stipulated the age of marriage for a boy or a girl, and there are no accurate statistics on the number of underage marriages.

Sultan bin Zahim, an attorney appointed by the government's Human Rights Commission to review the Onaiza case, told Al-Shorfa that "the mother of the 'Onaiza girl' withdrew the divorce petition." The reason, he said, is that "her ex-husband (the girl's father) has been haggling with her to drop the lawsuit in exchange for him dropping all the charges he had against her".

In this case the role of the commission will be "to verify the primary aim behind the marriage contract in order to ensure that such marriages, based on financial pressure or revenge between the spouses, do not take place in the future," according to Zahim. He added that "based on that, the marriage between the ‘Onaiza girl’ and the octogenarian is valid, and cannot be dissolved".

An underage girl "is not completely independent', Zahim said, "and the consent for her marriage is given by her guardian (the father). His consent should be in accordance with the girl's well-being, and not against it, as was the case with this child. It is clear that financial haggling was a major factor in the marriage in terms of relieving the guardian (the girl's father) of a debt, or it was an act of vengeance against the first wife (the girl's mother) by marrying off her daughter and thus getting rid of her."

Dr. Suhailah Zain Al Abideen, a member of the Saudi National Society for Human Rights, said that "this type of marriage goes against the international treaties signed by Saudi Arabia, but the absence of written laws is preventing the application of these family laws which aim to protect children."

Al Abideen added that it is necessary to "review fathers’ guardianship of children older than nine years, especially after it has been confirmed that all child marriages were planned by the father while the mother’s role was non-existent."

Jaafar Al Shayib, a member of the National Society, said that the marriage of underage girls is a "form of trade". He told Al-Shorfa that "these types of marriages are a violation of human rights. Our role is to sensitize people and to strive towards enacting a law that would punish all the parties involved in this crime."

Sheikh Saleh Al Humaid, president of the Supreme Judicial Council, already announced at the first Convention for Judges that "the Judicial Code which will come out soon will include a complete organisational structure of the judicial system and will address important issues, among them the marriage of underage girls, which are handled by the judicial system."

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Reader Comments

Holly Smith2011-02-17 14:01:00

I Get that they are allowed to have there on beliefs and everything,but this is an exeption. These girls deserve to live there childhood freely and to be bound to no one in that way. It is just sad./And half of the marriges end in horrific rape and abuse. That story about the 12 year old girl and the 80 year old man made me throw up. No joke. I went to the bathroom and threw up. I cant believe how SICK that is. It needs to stop,woman need to have more rights and power.

MOIN2011-01-16 04:04:00

Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of Allah, and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice...(between accepting the marriage or invalidating it) (Ahmad, Hadith no. 2469). another version of the report states that “the girl said: ‘Actually, I accept this marriage, but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right to force a husband on them.’” (Ibn-Majah). forced marrige is not allowed in islam.......

Iraqi2011-01-11 03:02:00

According to the teachings of God the Almighty; the Islamic teachings and the traditions of the Muslim societies, the young girl should only marry after reaching adulthood, and then she has the right to marry or continue her education or work. Neither of her parents has the right to force her to marry. God is the guide.

مسلم2010-04-06 09:05:00

O reasonable people, why do you exploit every incident to attack Islam, Muslims and the Islamic countries? Handling the incident in this manner is unfair, because there are similar incidents in other countries committed by people who follow different religions, including some countries that allege to be the Paradise of modernization and freedom. There are even worse crimes, such as the white slave trade in developed and democratic countries, but no one dares criticize them. Underage girls and adult women are forced to practice adultery, prostitution, and striptease to satisfy the advocates of democracy and feminists. Why don’t you accuse the Christian countries and their supporters that adopt immorality as a methodology and lifestyle? Why don’t you attack Christianity for this degrading treatment of the woman? This issue can be solved based on cultural respect, without the leveling of countless accusations against Islam by those who bear a grudge against that true religion. Misbehavior or mistakes of some people can never justify condemning a religion or creed. It is known that women reach puberty at the age of 9 in hot countries, while the girls in cold countries reach puberty at the age of 18. So, why should we raise the marriage age to be like others? Why are we required to follow others’ beliefs and laws? Why don’t they call for the opposite? The Muslims are required to follow the perverted people and sex maniacs by raising the marriage age, to spread immorality, adultery, prohibited relationships and nudity. Why are we required to satisfy our enemies who are obsessed with sex? Is it not sufficient that they have made the woman a cheap commodity and an advertising method? They use women’s pictures to promote everything, including shoes! Thus, a change in our way of thinking proves to be in order.

2010-03-21 18:04:00

I wish you would leave Saudi Arabia alone. Marriage has no minimum age. You allow adultery and fornication, and then you attack a normal issue in the name of freedom. May Allah disgrace you.

human rights activist2010-03-16 03:00:00

to the brother who said\" Peace be upon you! Stipulating a specific age for marriage will not solve the problem. I know some girls who married at a very early age (minors) and who led a successful life. Why is Saudi Arabia always attacked? It is the only state that is still implementing Islam, and it is better than other countries. If there is a young girl who is in love with a man, why don’t they get married and avoid falling into adultery?! Where is the problem? Mothers and fathers should fully educate their daughters on matters related to marriage. Girls should also be educated on choosing suitable husbands. I do not agree on using the word (minors), because Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) married at the age of nine. I support early marriage, because it protects girls and helps them keep upright. We are living today in an age of rebellion. Marriage provides protection and abstinence for girls, especially after the emergence of TV series and movies that control the minds of young people. A sister told me a short time ago that a high school female student committed adultery and became pregnant!! Why should we delay the age of marriage when there is no convincing reason for it, and while Urfi marriage and other things prohibited by Islam are allowed?! In any case, there are young girls under thirteen years of age who are able to successfully manage their houses. You should reconsider what you said so that it will not be an argument against you on the Day of Judgment. It is a rebellious age. May Allah forgive us all! Best Regards\" what you said above is illogical and it dose not have any meaning. all you said about is just to defend your society and its bad culture. please be talk logically and give some rights to females in your county and please stop this ball sh.

مجرد مواطن - العتيبي2010-03-14 04:03:00

There is no power and might except with the help of Allah. This is not marriage, but rape, a sexual frenzy and perversion committed and justified in the name of the Islamic religion. The government has to issue a strict decision to end this controversy, similar to selling slaves. There is no text specifying the marrying age, so why don't they do that and end this type of perversion in our society.

2010-03-13 04:03:00

This is not surprising or shameful. The Messenger himself married nine-year old Aishah when he was forty-five years old. Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

ahmed abeid2010-03-10 06:00:00

May Allah support them.

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