DUBAI – More than three in five Saudis support a minimum age for marriage for women, according to a survey that comes as nuptials between barely teen girls and men old enough to be their great grandfathers have caught the world’s attention. But 28 percent of 887 respondents in the survey by pollster YouGovSiraj said [...]
DUBAI – More than three in five Saudis support a minimum age for marriage for women, according to a survey that comes as nuptials between barely teen girls and men old enough to be their great grandfathers have caught the world’s attention.
But 28 percent of 887 respondents in the survey by pollster YouGovSiraj said they do not agree that a minimum age is required.
The survey also found that 70 percent said they would support new laws that would help prevent child marriages. Support for such legislation was higher among women at 80 percent compared to 67 percent for men.
“There is no minimum age for marriage in Saudi Arabia. It is not uncommon for men in their 40s and 50s to marry girls as young as 10 with the agreement that the husband doesn’t consummate until the girl reaches puberty,” Iman Annab, CEO of YouGovSiraj said in a statement.
“In sensitive matters such as these, online research is ideal for gathering the public’s views honestly and accurately and being able to do so in a matter of days with topical issues is very powerful.
“Creating a minimum age requirement for marriage could be a further step to not only protect women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, but also to promote more mature marriages which may potentially reduce the likelihood of divorce or dysfunctional marriages.”
A string of marriages between prepubescent girls and elderly men in Saudi Arabia last year made international headlines and brought the practice under the microscope. Many girls are sold into marriage without their consent.
Western governments and rights groups have strongly criticised the practice and been pressuring Saudi Arabia to outlaw parents from marrying off their daughters.
Debate was reignited earlier this year when an 80-year-old wed a 12-year-old girl after his father married to her off to his aged cousin for an 85,000-riyal ($22,665) dowry.
The Saudi government has said it is working on new rules to impose a minimum age for marrying to prevent child weddings, saying that it is considering 16 to 18 as appropriate minimum age for marriage.
But as debate rages over the practice, an official at the country’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs said earlier this month that outlawing child marriages would have a detrimental impact on Saudi society. (via Maktoob english)
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