Miami Vice
01-08-2013, 02:57 PM
http://www.examiner.com/article/man-70-marries-15-year-old-girl-then-complains-to-officials-when-she-leaves
A man, 70, married a 15-year-old in Saudi Arabia, but then complained to local officials that the family had ripped him off in the deal they made. CNN reported the details Jan. 8 of the situation that has caught the attention of human rights workers and many worried about the continuing issues around the world with child marriage. The man refused to give his name to CNN, but said that the girl's family had sold her to him for an amount of about $20,000.
According to CNN, the man complained to a local official after he says the girl's family took her back. The man, 70, married the 15-year-old girl who is said to be from the Al-Hurath village in the Jizan province of Saudi Arabia. The human rights workers told CNN that they don't believe the man's account in its entirety. They believe the man and the teen had a fight, and she went back to her family on her own. They are reaching out to her in hopes they can offer help to her. Despite the enormous age difference and accusations that the girl was sold to the man, she will have to go to court to formally dispute the marriage.
At this time there is no minimum age requirement for marriage in Saudi Arabia, though there are groups that have tried to push through and advocate that something be set. Conservative religious scholars in the area have opposed this. This report has definitely upset many on Twitter, who find it abominable that all of the adults involved in this situation let this happen to the young girl. Though there are no names publicly released, people hope that human rights workers are able to connect with the young girl and help her resolve these issues. Many are shocked that it is possible for a 70-year-old man to marry a 15-year-old girl when it seems it is not what she wants.
A man, 70, married a 15-year-old in Saudi Arabia, but then complained to local officials that the family had ripped him off in the deal they made. CNN reported the details Jan. 8 of the situation that has caught the attention of human rights workers and many worried about the continuing issues around the world with child marriage. The man refused to give his name to CNN, but said that the girl's family had sold her to him for an amount of about $20,000.
According to CNN, the man complained to a local official after he says the girl's family took her back. The man, 70, married the 15-year-old girl who is said to be from the Al-Hurath village in the Jizan province of Saudi Arabia. The human rights workers told CNN that they don't believe the man's account in its entirety. They believe the man and the teen had a fight, and she went back to her family on her own. They are reaching out to her in hopes they can offer help to her. Despite the enormous age difference and accusations that the girl was sold to the man, she will have to go to court to formally dispute the marriage.
At this time there is no minimum age requirement for marriage in Saudi Arabia, though there are groups that have tried to push through and advocate that something be set. Conservative religious scholars in the area have opposed this. This report has definitely upset many on Twitter, who find it abominable that all of the adults involved in this situation let this happen to the young girl. Though there are no names publicly released, people hope that human rights workers are able to connect with the young girl and help her resolve these issues. Many are shocked that it is possible for a 70-year-old man to marry a 15-year-old girl when it seems it is not what she wants.