Affecting Change in Saudi Law on Child Marriage - Page 2

The Pan African Forum, according to the web site ChildInfo.org, calls child marriage "commercial exploitation." The girls become indentured servants, having many wife duties without being an adult. There are, says ChildInfo, 60 million child brides. 

Saudi Arabia's Muslim clergy believe all is well with the old ways. They believe there is nothing inherently wrong with forced child marriages to mature men. A senior cleric even went so far as to say that those who oppose such a philosophy — seeing 10-year old girls as too young to be married off — are "doing the girls an injustice."

This is psychological-based denial of what most of the world believes. This is not just ideology. This is not culture against culture. It's not even a matter of law in some respects. It's refusal to protect the vulnerable and a refusal to see one's views as universally flawed.

The country's new justice minister did say last month that the government (hold on to your seat for this one) is "doing a study on underage marriage."

We're not focusing on 16-and 17-year old girls. What's at stake are the minds and bodies of children far younger, the emotional and physical scars they will fight to overcome, maybe for a lifetime, the bondage, and the loss of rights for them to have any say in whom they marry, when to marry, and if to marry.

There is no overhaul of the law taking place, but there are ripples in the water. There is pressure to do the moral good.

Maybe other nations wish to stay disconnected, but being a fence sitter doesn't advance civilization. Sometimes courage is necessary, and persistence in righting a wrong - a terrible, transparent violation of civil rights.

The world can make a difference. It must persevere, get creative, and insist on change. Educate a culture, illustrate the human damage of their own people, show them an alternative way, one in which they can also save face. Change the culture, show them expectations of civility, and watch the law change, too.

Article Author: Michael Toebe

Michael Toebe has been a reporter for newspapers and radio, a freelance feature writer for a magazine and online publications, a talk show host, newspaper blogger and independent blogger.

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