Recently an 80 year-0ld child molester, after having being outed by the media for his monstrous behavior, had his victim, a 12 year-old girl, returned to him. The young girl’s father sold his daughter for approximately $20,000, thus making her the 80 year-old man’s sex slave. All of this was entirely legal and binding according to the laws of the country.
Saudi Arabian law calls the sale of children “marriage,” making such vile and disturbing actions fall well within the boundaries of their legal system. There is no minimum age for such a union and time and again, children are sold off to highest bidding child molesters and rapists.
Only a few months back, when a mother tried to annul the sale of her 8 year-old daughter to a 47 year-old man, the request was refused not once, but twice by Saudi Courts. As it turned out, the marriage contract was part of a loan repayment plan. The man agreed to deduct $8,000 from a debt the father owed him in return. Yes, you are reading this right.
On some occasions, the victims manage to run away from their molesters. The wheels of Saudi Arabian society then jump into action. The police or the victim’s parents catch the girl and return her to once again re-enter the cycle of rape and human slavery.
I’ve often wondered if the damage and shame that Saudi Arabia brings to the international reputation of the Middle East and to Arabs everywhere is worse than any terrorist attack. Going back over these words… I’m no longer wondering.
From David Anthony Hohol…
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It sickens me to see this. Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the only countries where you will see the courts support this, the only place where father’s and police are the ones sending the children off to be molested in a “marriage” and not saving them. This has nothing to do with Islam, its the backwards bedoiuns who are little more than savages. if I could aplogize on behalf of them I would.
As a Muslim stories like this hurt, not because such actions have anything to do with Islam, because THEY DONT. But because people outside this region think it does and dont understand what what a complete and total shit-hole Saudi is. I hate them.
Certianly not the Arab World’s finest hour. Muslim or not, Saudi Arabia has sharia law do they not? Is this Sharia law? Under Sharia law is their a minumum age for marriage?
Disgusting and sick. I dont really give a shit if you’re a Muslim, A Christain or a Jew, any society that legally allows this to happen needs to be wiped off the face of the Earth. Bastards.
If this isnt the Muslim way, than why dont people rise up against the totally F***ed Up government and send them all to the gas chamber. Sitting back and doing nothing makes everyone an accessory.
It is unbelievable that such criminal activity can be protected by the law. This is not Islam for no God-fearing religion would allow such young lives to be so terribly torn at so tender an age. This is a distorted interpretation of a law meant to protect man (woman and child)
Great article. It shocks me everytime. Thanks for bringing salience to the issue. Have you seen Eve Ensler’s video on TED tv? She gets a lot of flak for bringing up similar issues.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_embrace_your_inner_girl.html
We have seen this a lot – and every time something like this is out in the news , a lot of righteous Muslims say that none of this is part of Islam. But issues like this continue to arise primarily because a lot these righteous Muslims silently and tacitly support.
All religions talk about love , peace and brotherhood – none do anything for it.
Arun – this is the problem we Muslims face. Say nothing and we tacitly support, speak out and we are being righteous.
I wonder how educated you are in terms of the Arab Muslim world. Do you know that a “marriage” (if one could even call it that) like those mentioned in the article would NEVER be accepted in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt etc? Do you know the tribal bedouin tradtions of Gulf Arabs? Do you know who Bilad Al Sham Arabs are?
Saudi Arabia is the scourge of the Muslim world, a manipulative and dictatorial regime that controls its citizens with fear, and their tool is Islam. Their perverted form of the religion then becomes a blanketed judgment applied to all who follow it. This is simply not right. Im sorry Arun there is no tacit support for marrying an 8 year old outside Saudi Arabia. End of story.
When Issues like this arise Athiests pop up and blame religion, the stretch out the claim to include religion in fact does nothing for anyone. Im sorry if it does nothing for you and I respect your personal experience. Religion for most of the world’s inhabitants, however, plays a very important and fufilling role in their lives. As much as that seems to bother athiests, its simply true.
Amir,
Saw your response after a long delay. Apologies if I have hurt your “religious sentiments”. To clarify my point further
1. I do not equate believing in God with believing religion. I have always had a strong faith in the existence of a supreme power =GOD.
It is possible for an individual to believe in God without any assistance from any religion. So dont attempt to brand me as an atheist.
2. I know a fair bit about the history of the Arab world and have sufficient education and intelligence to understand it.
3. Saudi Arabia and Yemen are not the only countries where this happens – it is a very common practice amongst Muslims in Asian countries like India , Pakistan etc.I am quite sure this will be happening in countries like Egypt & Jordan also- may be the media does not report it. In countries like India , any attempts by the Government to take action against such crimes is met with a lot of resistance from Muslim organizations.
4. I am sure no one will label you as righteous if you SPEAK OUT AGAINST SUCH CRIMES.
Branding me or people like me as an atheist is not going to be of any use.