Saudi Arabia – 80 Year Old Man Marries 10 Year Old Girl

A 10-year old girl, a fifth grader by most educational standard, ought to be enjoying school life.  In Saudi Arabia, a 10-year old school girl found herself the subject of a marriage deal.  The Saudi daily ‘Okaz reported in August this year that the girl’s father wanted to marry her elder daughter off to this 80-year old man.  But she refused, and so as a “Plan B” option, he decided to marry off the 10-year old daughter instead.

Did this 80-year old man refuse?  No, he didn’t.  In fact when he saw the 10-year old girl, he said he couldn’t see anything to prevent them getting married. By this he meant that according to sharia law, such a marriage is permissible as long as the father of the bride consents to it.

Is child bride marriages permitted in Saudi Arabia?  According to Saudi Human Rights Commission member Ma’touq Al-’Abdallah, this is not explicitly outlawed in Saudi Arabia.  However, Ma’touq Al-’Abdallah pointed out that the Saudi Health Ministry has concluded early this year that child marriages are not only harmful to society, but also harmful to the emotional and physical health of the child brides.  Moreover, Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (defined as under 18 years old).

If elder sister can say “No”, then why can’t this 10-year old?  Well she decided to run away, and she did, hiding in her aunt’s place before her father found her and returned her to her husband.   

Shams Khalaf Al-Harbi wrote an article entitled “Save Elementary School Girl” in ‘Okaz.  In it he asked some very pertinent questions:

“How is it possible that an elementary school girl is married to an 80-year-old man and no one lifts a finger to prevent this disaster?”

“How is it possible that, this sad episode is reported on the front page of a newspaper and the public treats it as a private matter?”

“What is the meaning of all this? The older sister refuses to marry an 80-year-old man, so the father offers him the next in line? How can anyone accept such injustice?”

And he ended with these last words: “It is inconceivable that Islam, which is a humane and compassionate religion, should sanction this kind of injustice. How can we let that father and that bridegroom vitiate our religion and our society?

Think about it.  Columnist Shams Khalaf Al-Harbi asked some very difficult questions.  What would your answers be?

Earlier posts

Somalia – 112 Year Old Man Marries 17 Year Old Girl
Nigeria – Man With 86 Wives And Counting
Syech Puji – Child Marriage Or Pedophile?
Muslim child Marriage – What Is Marriageable Age?