Saudi to curb child marriage

Saudi Arabia could finally enforce regulations curbing child marriage following years of haggling on the issue and growing criticism from international groups, newspapers in the Gulf Kingdom reported on Tuesday.

The country’s appointed parliament again debated the issue and gave a green light to the justice ministry to draft a law restricting such marriages.

“The Shura council agreed on a request by the justice ministry to draft a law introducing curbs on child marriage,” a statement said. “The law will force sheikhs and other marriage performers to abide by the new curbs.”

The statement by Shura, published in Saudi papers, gave no details of the proposed curbs but the law follows growing international criticism and recurrent calls by the local media to enforce tough rules against child marriage.

“These acts should be stopped,” the Arabic language daily Shams said in response to recent reports about the marriage of a 55-year-old man to a 12-year-old girl. “This marriage is a new tragedy.”

Saudi Justice Minister Mohammed Al Issa said early this year the Gulf Kingdom, one of the most conservative Muslim nations, is planning to enact a law to regulate the marriage of teenage girls following a surge in such weddings and growing criticism by human rights groups and other international agencies.

He said the new regulations are needed to put an end to what he described as widespread controversy and confusion about such marriages.

"The Ministry is studying a draft law to regulate the marriage of teenage girls," he said, without giving details of the law and the date of its enforcement.

"The marriage of under-age girls in the country is not a phenomenon yet as some claim... those who say this are wrong. We are considering regulations in line with the Islamic Shariah to govern this kind of marriage."

Al Issa said he hoped the new law would contribute to "ending all problems and confusion associated with female teen age marriage".

Okaz newspaper recently quoted a statement by the Saudi Human Rights Commission as saying this marriage violates the girl’s rights.

“We have set up a committee to study this case and the circumstances involved…the marriage constitutes a violation of the rights of this child, who at this age needs to be cared by her family, pursue her education and enjoy her childhood,” the statement said.

“We call upon all members of the community to rally against the marriage of children and teenagers. Media institutions should also play a bigger role in defending children and their rights.”

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