For every step forward women make, there are inevitable reminders that women and girls around the world still suffer unspeakable injustices and inequalities. Take the case of an 8-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia, who was recently married off to a 47-year-old man in order to settle her father's debts. Despite her mother's vehement disagreement with the marriage, the child was married off anyway, because it turns out that mothers in Saudi Arabia do not have the same rights as fathers.
When the girl's mother took her case to the Saudi courts, a top cleric refused to annul the marriage, arguing, "A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her."
The case is hardly unique: According to Human Rights Watch, child marriage is common across parts of the Middle East and Africa.
Watch the video below to learn more about the case -- and other instances of forced child marriage in Saudi Arabia.
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Wednesday 11 February
By Kody
This story is just another example of how americans are judgemental of the rest of the world and strive to through their values upon the rest of the world.
Reply
Wednesday 11 February
By Mary
So kody, I guess YOU enjoy forcing little girls into sex? I think this is SICK.
Wednesday 11 February
By lonzo
Please tell us your kidding right? This is child abuse and evil. wake up.
Wednesday 11 February
By lonzo
Kody, If you apply it to yourself and your own family, then, just then MAYBE you'll
understand. I have children and I know I would harm ANYONE WHO attempted
to ask for my 8 yr old.
Thursday 12 February
By Sandra
This has nothing to do with beinfg American. An 8 yr old is a child anywhere in the world. If you think this is justifiable then you are an accessory to a crime. The girl's mother know it is wrong and she is not american. Allah would not condone this. We call men who do this in the West child molestors and class or creed is irrelevant. I am sick to my stomach that no one protected this innocent child.
Wednesday 18 February
By GMAN
It is obvious that Kody does not have an eight year old daughter. Just the thought of an 8 yr old w/ a man that age should trigger some level of common sense if not morality. Or maybe I should pity you Kody. You sound as if you might have been the victim of some kind of abuse. Or maybe you are just a pervert.
Wednesday 18 February
By Ohiogrl
It really does not matter what culture you come from, marrying off an 8 yr old little girl is just wrong. The father needs to be a REAL man and die for his debt if needs to. Don't sacafice the life of an innocent child for your recklessness of getting into something you couldn't get out of.
Friday 20 February
By Marshall
If you agree with it go live over there. Idiot.
Sunday 22 February
By gella32282@aol.com
No one, including America is trying to impose their values on the rest of the world in this case. No CHILD should be forced to be married to settle the debts of their father. We revert back to ancient times..... its called SLAVERY. Your reply t this video shows your ignorance. Any man who marries a CHILD, is a PERVERT, and any person who agrees with him is just the same. Laws are meant to be followed and respected but when the law cannot see their faults, everyone has the right and duty to stand up and fight against them. You on the other hand deserve to be thrown out of America, if you cant respect what this country stands for..
Saturday 21 February
By Tasha
Kody, This story was done by a British reporter. And you don't think it is wrong for a 47 year old man to take an eight year old girl's hand in marriage as a pay off for a debt? this is not americans being judgemental, this is people all over the world being disgusted because it they are saying that it is basically okay to rip little girls from thier homes and mothers because the fathers want them gone or have to pay off a debt... And the mothers have absolutley no say in the matter...
Sunday 22 February
By elvia mata
boy what da f**k is wrong with you. Americans are judemental yes, but on things like war, poverty, but an eight year old girl being married off to some 47 year old is something that I would want to believe thatALL SHOULD people view as totally wrong. I have an eight month old babyboy and if I married his ass to some 39 year old women I think that in most places this would be viewed as something more than cruel its heartless. The ony person that can speack like you is a man cuz the dont carry babies for 9 months or a stupid ass bitch with no kids.
Sunday 22 February
By gigi243
WOW!
A child predator is amongst us!
I suppose you think all an 8 year old is the perfect bride.
This is insane in ANY society!
Kody,you are a pervert.
Sunday 22 February
By pinkthenred
Values? They do this because they are poor and a girl is even more burden for a family.
Monday 23 February
By spice
Kody I hope your name is on the sex offenders registry because you must be a child molester to think that this is okay.
Monday 23 February
By aurora
I think its sick. I dont care what they do in other parts of the world. she is still a little girl. Little girls are supposed to be kept safe and innocent. i couldnt even imagine marrying off my daughter at 8 no freakin way!!!!! i would face any punishment even death to keep my babies safe...
Monday 23 February
By donna
send your daughter there,,if you don't think there is anything wrong with an 8 yr old being forced to marry,,,,they are not just our views,,,it is most of the world would look at this as child abuse,,,,you have the problem,,,not America/Americans...
Monday 23 February
By Melissa
I can't believe that you would make an issue where an 8-year-old girl is forced into marriage to a 47-year-old man a cultural perspective... that has nothing to do with culture... that has something to do with nature and maturity. You are a sick and quite deranged person to try and make this a cultural thing. A child at 8-years-old is not emotionally developed enough, not to mention biologically developed enough, to become a wife. It is shameful that women are treated as mear property over there, and that a mother has no rights of her own child! Very sad!
Monday 23 February
By T
I think your very naive person if you feel that this is the U.S. trying to force their views on the world when people from that country believe its wrong to and the person in power of their country is obviously not sane. Was Hitler sane when he decided to commit a genocide against the jews, no. But the way your coming off your dense brain probably do not believe in the holocaust. Additionally i have a 8 year old brother he is way to young to think about girls in that kind of way. I know you probably like to move there so you can marry a five year old you sick bastard this makes me so upset dumb people like you exist in the world. Do you think that husband of a 8, 10, 12, 14 year old would wait until they are mature enough to have sex. No you IDIOT many girls develop early puberty might hit the 8 year old in a year and then what because the judge just said wait til puberty dummy. I hope you get some help buddy because you need it. I pray you never have a child in your custody because I very scared what you would do to it.
Tuesday 24 February
By no name
What the hell is wrong with you Kody???? This is not a typical arranged marriage between two ADULTS. This child doesn't even have a menstrual cycle yet and you want her to married off to a 47 year old man!!!! Who will undoubtedly rape her, scare her for life and beat her senseless and force other cruel unusual treatings for an 8 year old! She's expected to perform the wifely duties so please don't sit there shaking your head. Also, if this was an arrangement even between two 8 year olds I doubt the world would be looking at this as such a "judgemental" manner as you so un-eloquently put it.
Get your head out of your high horse's backside!!!
Monday 23 February
By U R Kidding
You have got to be kidding me...U must be a sick this gusting pervert in order to make a comment like this. What the hell do an 8 year old know about marriage to someone who could be her grandfather. I am glad America is exposing these sick perverted dogs and I hope something is done about it. Apparantly, American isn't the only one, even the girl mother did not want this to happen. Her sick disgusting dad should have found other means to pay off his debt.