The recent spate of marriages where girls are given away to much older men has been widely denounced by Saudi human rights groups, clerics and writers who say such unions are harmful to the children and trivialise the institution of marriage.
Saudi activists and clerics demand end to child marriage
AP Published: August 07, 2008, 00:07
Riyadh: An 11-year-old boy gave out invitations to his classmates for a big event his family was planning this summer – and it wasn’t his birthday party.
It was his wedding to a 10-year-old cousin.
Mohammad Al Rashidi’s marriage was eventually put on hold, his father said, after pressure from the governor of the northern province of Hail, who considered the elementary school student too young to marry.
The case is among a recent spate of marriages involving the very young reported in the media and by Saudi human rights groups. They have been widely denounced by activists, clerics and others who say such unions are harmful to the children and trivialise the institution of marriage.
