Saudi Court Refuses to Annul Marriage of 8-Year-Old Girl
By: Gerri L Elder
A Saudi judge has for the second time denied a divorce petition filed by the mother of an 8-year-old girl. The girl’s mother asked the court to grant the child a divorce from her 47-year-old husband. According to CNN, the same judge rejected the petition late last year.
The judge stood by his earlier ruling not to terminate the arranged marriage and said the child could petition the court for a divorce when she reaches puberty. The girl’s husband was required to sign a statement in court, pledging he won’t have sex with the child until she reaches puberty.
An appeals court has declined to certify the judge’s decision. Until the case is resolved, the child is still married. The divorce case will be heard in an appeals court next month.
The child’s father reportedly arranged the marriage to settle a debt. The girl’s mother is now separated from the father. The court previously ruled the mother is not the child’s legal guardian and could not represent her in court. Family members told CNN reporters the mother will not stop fighting for a divorce for her daughter.
April 16th, 2009 at 7:37 am
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May 1st, 2009 at 6:56 am
It seems the world is waiting for the outcome of this one.
May 4th, 2009 at 2:40 am
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May 18th, 2009 at 5:40 am
I think that regardless of the family or divorce senerio, each party needs to know their facts well and remember that in the end, anything of honest value is worth fighting for BUT after all is said and one there is one question that everyone has to struggle and answer… Was it really worth it and was the cost too high to get what I wanted?