JEDDAH: The mother of an eight-year-old Onaizah girl whose recent bid for a divorce from the 58-year-old man her father married her to was rejected by a court has contacted the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for help.
The girl’s father, who is divorced from her mother, married her to the man for a dowry of SR30,000 and took a verbal agreement from him not to consummate the marriage for 10 years until she turns 18.
Abdullah Al-Jutaili, the lawyer representing the girl, had expressed dissatisfaction at the court ruling and said he would lodge an appeal at the Court of Cassation.
He said annulling the marriage was necessary because the husband could take the girl from school if he wished without anyone being able to object.
Al-Jutaili said the mother only learned of the marriage several months later after the girl told her that her father had taken her to hospital where she gave blood. Her 58-year-old husband is married and has children, but he does not live with his family.
The lawyer said the fact that the man does not live with his family could be used against him in court. He also objected to the court’s observation that an appeal for annulling the marriage could only be filed by the girl when she reaches puberty.
Suhaila Zain Al-Abidin, a member of the National Society for Human Rights, questioned the decision by asking what condition the girl would be in if she was to reach puberty at the age of 9 or 10. “Unfortunately the judge failed to do justice to the girl. A girl of her age cannot use her money freely, let alone take such a major decision. It is not logical by all means. The husband is not in his 20s. He is old enough to be her grandfather,” said Zain Al-Abidin.
No one from the HRC commented on questions sent by Arab News three days ago.
