Thursday, April 30, 2009

8-year old Saudi Girl Granted Divorce


A Saudi mother has won a petition in court to grant her 8-year-old daughter a divorce from the 50-something "close family friend" the woman's husband married (sold!) the child to to pay back a debt.  

The original judge who heard the case refused to grant the annulment--but did manage to deny the "groom" legal sexual intercourse until the girl reached puberty.  (Because, clearly, a man who marries a child less than 1/6 of his age will respect her legal rights!?!)  A new judge appointed to the case finally issued the divorce/annulment only after the "husband" stopped defending the transaction as a legal marriage.

For more information, check out the Feminist Majority Foundation's April 16th story and the BBC's pieces, before and after the divorce was granted.



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