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…