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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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8

Saudi Girl, 8, Can't Divorce Husband, 58: Court

Case must wait until girl hits puberty; she still lives with mother

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(Newser) – An 8-year-old Saudi girl will remain married to her 58-year-old husband after a court struck down her mother’s request for a divorce, the Daily Mail reports. The hard-up father, who is divorced from the mother, signed a contract in August and received a dowry of about $7,400. The court ordered that “the plea should be filed by the girl herself when she reaches puberty.”

Relatives said there is a verbal agreement that the relationship would not be consummated until the girl was 18. “She doesn't know yet that she has been married,” a lawyer said of the girl, who still lives with her mother and is attending elementary school. The lawyer said he would appeal to Saudi Arabia’s highest court, which operates under Islamic law.

The girl's mother brought the case to court.
The girl's mother brought the case to court.   (AP Photo)
A Saudi man, right, buys a wedding dress at a shop in Riyadh.
A Saudi man, right, buys a wedding dress at a shop in Riyadh.   (AP Photo)
A young Muslim girl takes part a rally at the Dome of the Rock mosque.
A young Muslim girl takes part a rally at the Dome of the Rock mosque.   (AP Photo)
A Muslim girl listens to the speeches during a rally at the Dome of the Rock.
A Muslim girl listens to the speeches during a rally at the Dome of the Rock.   (AP Photo)
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8 comments
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sam
Dec 22, 08 3:14 PM CST
gotta love Islamic law.. Is he allowed to "consummate the marriage?" If so, doesn't that fall under the category of pedophilia? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Sphinx
Dec 22, 08 3:59 PM CST
As far as I know, you can't be married in Islam until puberty. This isn't Islamic law, it's Saudi law, and it makes me fucking sick.
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maevealleine
Dec 22, 08 4:32 PM CST
i hope the "husband" and the "father" both have their cocks rot off. Reply
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DeniseVB
Dec 23, 08 8:36 AM CST
I don't care what the "consumation" rule is, that guy is a pedophile under any "law". Reply
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Laugh
Dec 23, 08 8:59 AM CST
The reason why children have parents is to protect them from mentally unstable people like these. Someone must act on the child's behalf, because she is too young to understand! What kind of a crazy legal system does this country have?? This isn't a court - it is a system accommodating pedophilia. Reply
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