‘Set minimum age for marriage’

By YUSUF MUHAMMAD | ARAB NEWS

MADINAH: Participants of a debate Monday evening at Taibah University have called for a fatwa establishing a minimum age for marriage. Abu Bakr ibn Ahmad Bagadir, undersecretary for international relations at the Ministry of Culture and Information said child marriage “have serious social implications.” Bagadir said the fatwa should establish the framework for protecting underage girls.

Ghazi ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari, chairman of the Takafol family program in the Eastern Province, said he approved of the marriage of underage girls, but warned against premature sexual relations.

The age at which a child becomes an adult in Saudi Arabia is generally determined to be 18 in civic matters. However in Shariah the age of adulthood and consent is determined by the physical appearance of puberty, which can vary among individuals.

Ahmad ibn Hafeez Hafiz, director of a mental hospital in Madinah spoke about the medical and psychological implications of such marriages. He cited a number of cases that came to him in the hospital in which young married girls suffered from depression and a hatred of men.

“Poverty, the desire to protect the girl from an early age and using the girl as a commodity are the main causes of underage marriages,” he said.

Saud Al-Anzi, undersecretary of the High Institute for Imams and Preachers, presided over the debate.

Comments

SARA AL-SHAIKH

Report abuse
There should be minimum age for marriage. The consent of the girl for the marriage should be compulsory.

FRANK FORSBERG

Report abuse
In Somalia where I delivered medicall Aid, I have seen a 7 years old girl engaged, the difference is her fiance was 6 yeard old not 70 years old. Why can not you use common sense, then you do not need laws. I was reading Saudi woman blogg and she had an article where a father sold hid daughter. That is the word she used SOLD. Is that appropriate? I do not know but it is for you Saudis to discuss.
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments

New leader calls for unity government amid turmoil in Maldives

Democratic Form of Government is becoming a 'JOKE' and 'LAUGHING <br/>STOCK' for the people al

MUBARAK ALI PATEL at Feb 9, 2012 06:10

1 comments

Graft, politics, militant Islam shake Indian Ocean island paradise

Instead of people's Power, people in Democratic Country often see <br/>Authoritiative Power/Im

MUBARAK ALI PATEL at Feb 9, 2012 06:10

1 comments

Attack on Iran 'would be disaster,' must talk-Turkey

"DESTROYING" is the key word today; whether it is "COUNTRY" or <br/>"ECONOMY" is immeterial.

MUBARAK ALI PATEL at Feb 9, 2012 06:09

3 comments

When irrational fear takes over

Using computer programs to treat phobia is great. But if you have fear of heights (Acrophobia?)

Azad Miah, UK at Feb 9, 2012 04:42

1 comments