10-year-old Saudi bride sent back to 80-year-old husband

A 10-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia who was married off to an 80-year-old (after her older sister broke off her engagement to the old man, in order to pursue her education) was returned to him after she was discovered hiding at her aunt's house. Apparently the young girl had been gone for approximately 10 days, until her father found her and immediately sent her back to the old man.

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According to the old man, being married to a 10-year-old is allowed per Shariah law. Since he was unable to marry the older sister, the younger child was offered up as an alternative by her own father. Justifying the actions the 80-year-old man said,

“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.”

The father of the young child is as much to blame as the old man. What kind of father would do that to his child? Marrying off your 10-year-old girl is not only criminal, marrying her to an 80-year-old is quite frankly sick and obscene. The man could be her grandfather. Parents are supposed to protect their children from nasty old men. Perhaps this is commonplace in places like Saudi Arabia, but it shouldn't be. A young girl isn't equipped physically, mentally or emotionally to be married. A child is a child. She should be playing with dolls not playing wife.

According to 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.

This is something that should be outlawed everywhere, including Saudi Arabia. How about a Fatwa against child brides, instead of all the other ridiculous Fatwas that are forced on Muslims.