Child Brides

[LazyGun]

A horrible story here.

http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/yemen-child-marriage-human-rights-519066

Here is the thing though;from the article, it says that

"In February 2009, a law was created in Yemen that set the minimum age for marriage at 17. Unfortunately, it was repealed after more conservative lawmakers called it un-Islamic."

Do those who believe in Islam really think this kind of practice is acceptable? How can a minimum age limit of say 18 - heck even 16, be considered "unislamic"?

[tamborine]

Its disgusting that these men lust after children. Why dont the kids fathers intervene ?

[naomi24]

For people guided wholly by Islamic literature and ideology, setting a minimum age for marriage is unIslamic. The Koran gives clear instructions to men on divorcing their pre-pubescent wives – and as has been said, Mohammed, who like the Koran is deemed to be beyond criticism, married a child.

//Why dont the kids fathers intervene ?//

Little girls are married to adult men with the fathers’ agreement, predominately because upon marriage responsibility for a child who will never be self-supporting will be passed from father to husband – and in this instance, among many others, this is the result. Sickening.

[sandyRoe]

Yemen seems to be a happy hunting ground for paedophiles who are rich enough to pay a bride price/dowry. But the numbers of men there who are interested in children can't be more than in any other population. Why is this happening there?

[naomi24]

//Why is this happening there? //

Yemen isn't alone - it's happening in many places - including right here in the UK.

[LazyGun]

@ Naomi - when you say "its happening here" you mean paedophilia rather than child brides, I take it? ( just to be clear)

Obviously the case itself was horrible and quite shocking, but what really surprised me was that they reversed a legally binding minimum age statute, claiming that such a statute was "un-islamic".I understand the business about Aisha/Ayeesha or however it should be spelt, but even so, repealing this kind of law just seemed wrong to me.

[tamborine]

I can see that child brides would be virgins & free of sex deseases, maybe thats their thinking. As most mature grooms must already have kids, they would know the harm intercourse with immature kids would cause. This practice can only be lust.

[naomi24]

LG, I mean child brides.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Society/article1122316.ece

Tamborine, // I can see that child brides would be virgins & free of sex deseases, maybe thats their thinking.//

No, that’s not their thinking. Regardless of age, all Muslim girls are expected to remain virgins until they marry.

[sir.prize]

Animals behave better.

[LazyGun]

@Naomi, Fender Thanks for the links. Was unaware of this story/issue and its practice in the UK which is especially appalling.

[EDDIE51]

the fathers do not intervene because the fathers have often sold the child to the husband in the first place.

[tamborine]

If an underage mother or sexually abused child needs NHS treatment would the perpetrator be prosecuted? That might stamp out some child abuse.

[naomi24]

It’s a difficult area because Islamic marriages, regardless of the age of the bride, are often conducted in private homes by people who are not legally qualified to conduct them; therefore such marriages are not registered and are not legally recognised. If a girl is abused (which in my opinion every child bride is) the perpetrator would be prosecuted, but since secrecy surrounds underage marriages, it’s unlikely that such abuse, and the physical injury caused, would ever be brought to the attention of the authorities.

There are thousands of girls being subjected to FGM, but again, because that horrendous practice is carried out secretly, and mainly during a trip abroad, only now are we beginning to acknowledge that a serious problem exists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23982767

[ludwig]

// when you say "its happening here" you mean paedophilia rather than child brides, I take it? ( just to be clear) //

What's the difference ?

[Brenden]

We have very little idea what goes on behind closed doors of "sharia courts" in this country it goes way beyond domestic issues.

[society]

Where are the parents, the fathers? How can these big old men be so cruel and heartless. What is wrong with these people!

[naomi24]

Despite having tried and failed many times here to explain the physical difference between the body of a nine year old and that of a nineteen year old – not to mention the emotional and intellectual gap - I have it on good authority that the fathers don’t feel they’re being cruel and heartless when they marry their little girls off to grown men. Apparently they do it to ensure that the girl (who apparently, no matter how tender the years, becomes a woman capable of having sex the moment her periods begin) will be cared for in the future. In the light of the original subject matter of this thread, that could be misconstrued as a sick joke – but it isn’t. It’s what happens. Girls born into this backward culture are denied their independence, and hence, unless married, remain a burden on their families - and so they are married off – very clearly regardless of the potential consequences. As for the men who want to marry them ….. what can I say?

[boxtops]

well said, naomi. This story horrifies me - at one time I'd understood that even if a girl is married before puberty, she would stay with her family until puberty arrived, at which time she went to her husband. I see that's not accurate - or perhaps only applies in specific cultures. Awful - poor little girl.