Saudis Regulate Child Brides

Amanda Dominguez

It is interesting, as we talked about differing cultural values and norms, that I would stumble upon this BBC news article on Saudi Arabia amending their marriage laws based on a case brought to the court on a marriages between and 60 year old man and an 8 year old girl. The court did not abolish the marriage rather it stated that they may not engage in sexual relations till she hits puberty. To those of us to live in countries that never see the selling of daughters into marriage for dowry, this practice can be seen as a violation of human rights. Human rights groups have suggested that it is poverty that is causing for parents to marry off their daughters early for the money they receive from the grooms family. Although arranged marriages are a common practice in many cultures and really should not be frowned down upon as they are a tradition that is embraced by many, this article suggest that this practice, in special instances such as this, are almost borderline prostitution. Justice Muhammad Issa did not suggest that this ritual be abolished, but did make a mention of ending the way in which parents marry off their underage daughters.