Speak of the Devil

BabaGannouj sent me a link to a CNN article from today that relates to yesterday's post.

In it, it describes the top Saudi Cleric, the grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh who has refused to annul the marriage of an 8-year old girl to her father's 47-year old friend. Apparently, the father gave his daughter to his friend in order to settle some debt he had with him.

I'll let you reflect on that for a second. A father gave up his 8 year old daughter, a man who was nearly 40 years old when she was born, so that he could settle some debt.

And the wonderful Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh refused to annul the marriage. Why, you may ask. Well, he gives us a perfectly logical reason: "It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger. 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."

WOW. We are being "unfair to her" because we think it is wrong, it is animalistic, it is perverted for an 8-year old to marry ANYONE, let alone a 47-year old man.

What business does an 8-year old have in being married?? Is she in love? NO. Is she prepared to be a wife? NO. Can she run a household as she is bound to do there? NO. Can she give her 47-year old husband companionship?? NO. WHAT CAN AN 8-YEAR OLD POSSIBLY GIVE HIM?? We all know what the answer is, but is too disgusting to say.

When you're 8, you should be going to school, playing with your friends, having your parents take care of you and teach you about life. Not according to the grand mufti of Saudi.

I don't think I need to evaluate this ludacris statement any further. But what is truly troubling is that this practice is not only accepted in Saudi, it is far from rare. What is troubling is that the Grand Mufti thinks it is perfectly normal for little, innocent girls to get married.

But, you know what, maybe i'm being a little harsh on these guys. At least the judge "required the girl's husband to sign a pledge that he would not have sex with her until she reaches puberty." Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all. If the husband waits, she'll be...let's see.....12 years old approx. when she has sex?

Excuse me as I go throw up. Thank god I live in the US where people who even look at pictures of naked children are locked up in jail.

And all I can do is sit here and write this and pray for those little girls who are forced to give up their childhoods and their innocence.

~LZ