In Islam, there is no such concept of free will, especially with respect to women folk. They are treated as mere commodities in the hands of men. They are battered, molested, killed when they ask for freedom. To make the situation worse, women have given no say in their own marriage. Girls less than ten years are given away to men over fifty years!
Do you expect women in Islamic countries to breathe?
There are no such laws in Saudi Arabia that define the minimum age for marriage. Although a woman’s permission is legally required, but that’s a different story that some marriage officials do not think it’s necessary to ask them.
Running on the similar lines, recently a case has come up from Saudi Arabia where the court has discarded a divorce plea from eight-year-old girl married to 58-year-old man.
The girl’s mother filed a divorce plea on her behalf but the judge dismissed it saying that she (the mother) has no right to file such a case. And that the girl can only file the plea when she reaches puberty.
This is just a single case but the province is saturated with instances where young girls - who themselves don’t know the meaning of marriage - are actually being given away as wives to old men.
The so called educated men in Islamic nation are likely to nourish the disgusting practice of marrying off prepubescent girls. Fathers and guardians tend to sell their daughters into marriage just for few bucks, further abetting rape.
Instead of feeling guilty about it, poor families find this a profitable bargain, as they receive high bridal fees from the old groom; after all, religious hardliners acts as pillars to support the inhuman regime.
What a miserable life for these little girls. (Sigh)!
Comments
I am a syrian arab and I live in a country near saudi arabia.
YES .. it is sad but true but it’s rare , when this happens .. it happens usually in poor uneducated families.
but in most cases girls has choices especially in cases where the man is alot older .. this is in saudi arabia’s case, but not muslims in general.
in western middle east like syria and lebanon women usually has the option to accept or refuse the man for whatever reason and a marriage where the husband is too old for the girl is considered bad and shameful yet it exists but so rare and usually in villages.
this matter happens mostly in non arabic muslim or non muslim countries like afganstan and pakistan and india and arround (east) which is part of their culture and has nothing to do with islam.
the poeple in the picture you provided are definetly not arabs and are eastern muslims ... afganstan?
And I totally agree. This is an Arab thing, not Muslim. It has been for thousands of years this way. There are many ethic groups, including Amerindians that do the same thing.
The problem is that western then to forget that cultures are different. silly us...
What has been written is very sad.But its more prevalent in mostly uneducated families.
I wish they could write some articles on Sati and dowry deaths thats so much rampant amongst educated Hindus in India and abroad.
The treatment of women amongst Hindus is to be seen to be believed.
Young girls are married to Trees and dogs to release them from curse. Check out this movie ’Sati’.
The women has to sleep with an animal or priests to become clean when they astray. Its being portrayed in a famous bengali movie ’Antarmahal’.
I was in India recently and saw their plight of women in the hindu religious abode ’Vrindavan’ in Mathura. Homeland of Krishna. Its just inhuman to think the plight of Women and the way they are exploited by Hindu priests.
I wish someone from west write something on them. Their plights are never going to be exposed by Indian hindus.
Its more so important due to skewed male / female ratio due to female infanticide and foeticide which is so common in North Indian hindus.
Dear i have seen these events many times.
You know, it is truly amazing that with all of the publicity-both positive and negative that Islam has received in the last 8 years, you would think that people would be able to distinguish between cultural and religious practices and even between an Afghani and an Arab (which is CLEARLY what the picture above represents).
So I am left with no other option but to assume the purpose of this article was to deliberately write misinformation to continue to make the issues that surround Islam as ”Clear as Milk.”
Never have I heard a Muslim reporter, or media personality, nor Christian or a Jewish media personality say, ”And in the news today, a Christian man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping another Christian girl.” or ”Today, a Christian was executed in Texas for crimes of cannabalism perpetrated in the 1980’s where he tricked other Christian boys into getting into his car...”
Or ”Today Christians were seen protesting in the streets of Washington DC over their dissatisfaction with the 2000 election of George W. Bush.” Or
”Two Christians robbed a conveniance store today and made off with 2 cases of beer and $1000 in cash.”
So why is it that just about every single time something happens IN an Islamic country, the crime itself is attributed to the religion as a whole and not to the ACTUAL perpetrators of the crime?
No. Instead, any reporter worth his/her weight in salt, will instead mention the individual, where applicable, and the crime committed, whether it was ”alleged” or actual.
I beleive the clarifications given by the others here, of which I’m certain comprise of non-muslims as well as muslims, and Allaah knows best, are sufficient where I won’t have to add my reply. I’m just giving some food for thought.
How clearly we see the troubles of the world from our living rooms and computers, but fail to look behind the grocery store where the homeless people are raiding trash cans and the prison populations are bursting at the seams. Yet we have the foresight and wisdom to notice all of the indignities of other genders and nationalities............”
One should not throw stones if one lives in a glass house.
And thanks again to those persons here who have made the effort once again to distinguish the culture from the religion.
Re: Ammar,
Many would agree with you that this event is rare and that these girls are from uneducated families. My question is ”who IS responsible for the marriage act and the acceptances of Honour Killings?” Are these men uneducated too? Who is responsible to educate these parents in Muhammad’s (pbuh)intentions? Yes.. we continue to confuse Religion and Culture, but the way a culture is molded depends heavily respect of civil LAW. So if the country’s laws do not protect uneducated girls - who will? How many 6-9 year old girls say ”NO” to their father (in a culture that expects daughters to marry). Even 14-20 year olds in more educated societies don’t say ”No”. I have read the Quran. If you read through the eyes of an educated woman you could find that it is rather insulting, HOWEVER, i also strongly believe that Muhammad (pbuh) was given these instructions to IMROVE the life of the women in his day (given education of- men and women -and respect at that time). A question noone has answered for me (so far) is, If Muhammad (pbuh) was alive TODAY, how would he expect us to be improving eachothers lives? (given our possible/available education and understandings) OR should we women continue to need to be covered because men are not responsible for the control themselves and women’s words are not as honest or reliable as any man’s in a court of law? I believe male doctors should be able to treat women and women should be able to get a cab/eat/walk the streets/make legal decisions etc. by themselves if they wish. I have heard of women who re-marry many times to survive. In a Muslim country how difficult is it for women with no male relatives - No father, brother, grandfather, uncle,sons, 2 dead husbands -Thankfully i have a dog, a job and a car i am able to drive.
Narrated Aisha: ”The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Alright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, ”Best wishes and Allah’s Blessing and a good luck.” Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah’s Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.
Sahih Bukhari 5:58:234
saheeeh hadeeth.
how to force girl to accept unwanted marriage - by threating. and girl knows very well that if her parents kill her, they will be not punished.
”retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right.” However, ”not subject to retaliation” is ”a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.” (’Umdat al-Salik o1.1-2).
and remember the symbolical punishment for such crimes in most moslim states.
This is a sad story but you don’t have most things worded quite right. Wouldn’t you want to learn at least a LITTLE about Islam before you write up such profanity?
”In Islam, there is no such concept of free will, especially with respect to women folk.”
In Islam? Honey, in Islam women can DENY any type of arranged marriage. In Islam women have as much rights as men do. This doesn’t happen in ISLAM it happens to women with bad husbands and forceful parents. This has nothing to do with her Religion. Her religion is what would have helped her if anything. Women have a 100% say in a necessary divorce. Islam does not prohibit her from such rights. Islam is the only religion I respect when it comes to women and their rights. If anyone thinks otherwise then it’s a God known shame.
This type of situation goes down in Africa like it’s a natural thing. Never have I seen an article that starts off
”In Christianity, there is no such concept of free will, especially with respect to women folk.”
because women are being forced to wed at a young age
Really Sherlock? And what happens when a Muslim woman ”DENY” marriage on your so called ”Willingness option?” Far I recall, it brings disgrace to their families and they are normally stabbed or stoned to death by neighbours and relatives... Is what your Sharia law says.. don’t you have a copy?
Okay, just want to reply to RobbieNZ. Its merely a CULTURAL thing. I am a Muslim women from Somalia, and this sort of thing randomly happens and mind you Somalia is a 99% Muslim country. These types of things happen EVERYWHERE and have been happening for centuries before Islam even came into existence. So for you to point the finger at Islam and say that women have no free-will in Islam, its a cultural problem, not an Islamic problem. I dont think people realize Islam becomes corrupt in the hands of certain followers. The Holy Book even says that both women and men are equal, and no where does it say girls should be forced into marriage and have no free will, subliminal or otherwise.
People need to learn about the religion and not simply block there minds from the positivity of it, and look at the negative, extremist believers that dwell in such cultural practices. If your going to blame Islam, look into the religion itself and not the believers who twist it to feed their own sick practices.
Perhaps you need to review your Hadith, where it explicitly talks about the Prophet Mohammed marrying Aischa at the age of 6 and consumating the marriage at 9, therefore setting the precedence for an entire religion. (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 62, No.64) Culture and religion are not seperate entities, they are intertwined. It is just as much the religion as the culture and vice versa, as one is not itself without the other. And while you are at it, maybe you should learn a little bit more about your own religion. Especially about the Hadiths stating that women have no right to do anything without the permission of her husband and that they are subjectable to beating if they do not obey.
replying to holly, mahy i just say that Aisha was not like most ordinary girls of today she was matue for her age and was not forced into marriage, the wedding was arranged and she did not disagree and i’m sure if she did our beloved Prophet (pbuh) would have not married her, so do not compare these girls to that of Aisha.
Replying to Amina Omar, are you even trying to be serious? She was mature for her age? She was 6 freaking years old, what is wrong with you people.
@Stan@
Learn the truth...tthat she was really 6 years old....
read from here!
http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com
It should not be a ”natural thing”.
Arab countries happen to be Muslim and because the culture in Arab countries is that women are lesser beings and therefore must be used by men as those men please, Islam is being portraied as a religon that diminishes women. I don’t know if this is true, however, I think it is wrong to criticize another religon unless you have solid proof that such a religon harms you or someone else or stops you from expressing your beliefs etc. If indeed Islam takes away womens rights then steps should be taken accordingly to improve their conditions.
jus replyin tu robbienz
oi shutup robbienz hu eva yew r i am a muslim n dat type of tingz daw happen it happenz rareli
muslim girls do have a choice far as i recall yew need da find owt da tru facts instead ov blamin islam n pointin a finger at muslimz
i suggest yew luk up ur copy of ur religion n dort out your own religion first then point a finger at islam
hey check out this silly law. in texas a 14 year old girl is allowed to have babies but cant marry until she is 16. aint THAT weird? but nobody criticizes the westerners. actually lots of americans have babies around 15. but thats not considered crazy. ah well.... and besides the holy prophets most beloved wife was around 40 and the prophet pbuh aged 25 when they got married. islam duznt force a woman to get married b4 she wants. its just a regional practice in some parts of asia. the african tribes do that too. but i dont c any1 accusing THEM of being inhumane
And the culture is directed/moderated by , , , What? (As you are saying that religion has nothing to do with it).
And where is the LAW that is protecting these women? ( One assums the law makers ARE educated)
And NO - these things happen NOT ONLY in Africa.
I do not agree with this article because it is one sided. People have been getting married at an early age for years, throughout history. Biblcally and by Islamic History. American history as well and it is still going on today in some parts, may not be as young but still young. the other argument is that the girl is being ignored, the children in this country grow up differently there mentality is different. there not all that young as a girl in chicago( per se ) . These sisters are growing up as women the know what a husband is, what is a family, they cook , clean , teach etc. Yes! and at there age. And finally there bodies are at the stage of producing children.
this girl look that she should play with her toys (like poor Aishah took her toys to her house, where her ”husband” visited her).
moreover, I challenge every muslim to prove that poor Aishah menstruated at age 8 or 9.
and do not state this hot climate thing - in fact, it is whole depending not upon the temperature, but upon the nourishment.
so there is slight chance, that a well fed girl may menstruate at 9 -but does it signify that she is ready for marriage and sexual life?
I am canadian, married to a yemeni and I myself have lived in yemen. I have not seen even one child bride so I do not believe it is as big of a problem as you make it seem. Wrong? Maybe, but not a popular pastime of muslims to marry off little girls to old men. You have that in the USA anyway - in those ”communities” of people who are polygamists, married to 80 wives with 120 children, and these children having babies themselves. Now thats a little more to worry about dont you think? Sorry if you guys dont live in the USA, just using an example....
And also, I find it funny with such a large overwhelming number of girls getting married off to old men in Saudi, that you have to use a photo from afghanistan..... hmm... couldnt find any?
I love to read this kind of dialog. As a man born in the U.S. it is important for me to read the truth about women’s life from the point of view of someone from those traditions of the Muslim world. Thank you all for setting the record straight. Salam ma lakum, Alleh Acbar
Article 16
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Are you quoting a law here, and if so from which country?
Islam, no doubt doesn’t give much of respect and freedom to women. A bad thing is worth calling ’bad’.
The lady from Somalia, I think you are straight away lying.
”The Holy Book even says that both women and men are equal” this is what you said.
two women witness make one man’s witness. Same is true for property rights. And more, you know better. It is because woman are half-intelligent than men.
http://www.wikiislam.com/wiki/Quotations_from_the_Quran_and_the_Hadith_Women#Women_are_Worth_Half_a_Man
Also, Islam says women are mere sex slaves. http://www.wikiislam.com/wiki/Quotations_from_the_Quran_and_the_Hadith_Women#Women_are_Worth_Half_a_Man
Women’s comparison is even done with donkeys and dogs in a negative manner. Mohammad even says that marry young girls with whom you can play.
And there are 4 hadiths that say women are deficient in intelligence. read them here. http://www.wikiislam.com/wiki/Quotations_from_the_Quran_and_the_Hadith_Women#Women_are_Worth_Half_a_Man
This is just a tip of the iceberg. there are aplenty like this. Chekc this http://www.wikiislam.com/wiki/Quotations_from_the_Quran_and_the_Hadith_Women#Women This is all uploaded by Muslims themselves.
i mean no offense, but this is the reality.
Mohammad even says that marry young girls with whom you can play.
yea I love when mppl take words out of meaning.... love it. Actully not. When Prophet Muhammad says this, he doesnt mean babies. He means young girl - i.e young women. 20 year olds. Not 50 year olds. Try reading hadith yourself and quoting from the quran and not post links from Wikipedia- the encyclopedia ANYONE can post in. I could write on that site demeaning things about a religion and it will post. You can change what is written on there. Try READING quran, it hasnt been changed sent it was sent from God. I have been treated better after converting to Islam than I ever had been while I was catholic. I get more respect, I am not judged and My husband of 4 years treats me better than any of my friends husbands treat them. My children show me respect, not like their children calling them swear word names and lack any sort of manners. As for as Islam goes, it liberates women, not oppresses them, sorry.
To ”A Muslim Woman”, I guess you aren’t that Muslim or you would know that Mohammed said the quote about marrying young girls to play about his 6 year old bride Aicha. Not a 20 year old.
Oh, and thats from the Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 62, No.64, since you want a direct quote from one of your own holy books and not from wikipedia.
This is in response to Holly Townsend - your post was an interesting one to read as you quoted directly from Hadith. In regards to the issue at hand, I’m not going to enter into a debate of culture vs islam as those educated and literate amongst us will know that this is clearly an issue of the former, but what i would like to point out is your reference to the evidence found in the Hadith. Yes you are right in your quote, Prophet Muhammad married Aisha at the age of 6 and consummated the marriage when she reached puberty, which was at the age of 9.
When referring to ahadith, and/or verses from the Quran it is vitally important that one fully understands and appreciates the context - something which you have failed to do here.
The significance here, which must not be ignored, is that the marriage was only consummated once Aisha had reached puberty. In modern day terms, this is defined as ”The stage of adolescence in which an individual becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction”. Aisha had therefore left childhood and had entered the transition into womanhood. It is also important to remember this took place over 1400 years ago - a time where the maturity levels of children/young adults moved at a far greater rate than today.
In todays day, puberty does not even come into the equation, instead we have ’age of consent’. You may or may not be aware that the age of sexual consent in many countries across the world is as young as 12(Mexico)/13(Spain)/14(China) - therefore even if the girl has not reached puberty she is legally allowed to have sexual intercourse!. (Also, considering we have moved on 1400 years, there is not much of a difference here to that of Aisha’s age). Interestingly, The Vatican City, has an age of consent of 12 years old, as this is an age where many girls are seen to begin their menses and are therefore capable of childbearing.
So in conclusion, when taken out of context, the Hadith is incomprehensible - one must take into consideration all factors before arriving at a conclusion. Please bear this in mind when researching more on Islam.
Aysha: Yours is actually the most valid argument I have heard thus far in the case of 6 year old Aicha and the prophet, and is definitely a breath of fresh air when compared to others such as ”she did not disagree to the marriage.” As if a 6 year old is capable of speaking out against a concept which she would have no knowledge or really understanding of at such an age. On the other hand,the main basis for your argument, that 1400 years ago, people matured faster than presently, is inherently incorrect. It is true that people matured psychologically, emotionally, and socially somewhat faster than now, however, these psychosocial aspects should not be confused with biological maturity. It is not correct to assume that since people died at a younger age, they biologically matured at a younger age as well. In the case of puberty and menstruation, it is actually the exact opposite of what you claim. Girls in today’s environment are menstruating at younger ages than ever before proven. The age at first menarche has declined, on average, 2.3 years alone since 1900. Although this high rate is not considered to be consistent with every century (modern environmental factors such as childhood obesity and pollution lend highly to this staggering 2.3 year decline), it is widely acknowledged that the age of menarche has decreased by AT LEAST 2 to 3 months per century. This only makes Aicha’s age even more inappropriate for sexual intercourse considering that 1400 years ago at the age of 9, she was even less biologically mature (puberty and menstruation wise) than today’s 9 year old girls.
To Ayesha, may Allaah bless you for setting the record straight regarding the statements of Holly.
It is amazing that people only search for ”Evidence” when they ”Think” it supports their claim, as erroneous as it may be. And when they find it, you hear the ”Ah Ha! I’ve got you now!”
And then they apply the flawed methodology of using statements based on their apparent meaning, and not consult the people of knowledge, which is the proper thing to do.
Rather, they apply this apparency-based methodology, with an eclectic culmination of ”He said, she said, I read this from here, I read that from there and based on that, I say this...”
It is this same methodology that has created the turmoil that surrounds not only her religion, but Many other religions; Deviation from consulting the people of knowledge, male or female, in affairs that need proper insight since this was the way of all of the followers of all the prophets and messengers; that when they were not clear about an affair, they referred it to God and the Messenger of God for final determination.
I really don’t think any more air should be given to their posts, because in the end, people believe what they want to believe.
AMEYA: Well said, but sadly, most women are in denial about their lack of rights under Islam, regardless of whether you provide proof or not.
Wow!
After reading most of the comments posted here, i believe even pooja wouldn’t have liked to post it just for the sake of getting absurd comments on that.
I don’t agree with anyone who has posted comments here. It’s an established fact that it’s man’s immediate culture and social set up that determines marriages, deaths, etc not the religion. Marriage is a social contract and not a religious affair at all. Marrying younger girls is a cultural headache, if social evils over take a particular society why should religion be blamed whereby its domain is ethics and morality and spirituality?
Marrige in many religons is a very important event. To dismiss it as a social contract is a mistake.
This is a response to Basmah and others.
In Somalia not to long ago a young woman got stoned to DEATH for so called
”adultry” .
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444429,00.html
I know of a girl from the middle east that was married of to a much older man and she had no say in it. a close friend of mine had an arranged marriage where then man, took her away FORCED her to wear the HIJAB and would BEAT her. When she wanted a divorce her mother BEAT her at told her that she was a disgrace to the family and to leave and never come back.
These two cases are both from a practicing muslim background.
And I do understand that even back in the day, loooong time ago even in the christian religion women would get married at a very young age. One must take inconsideration that back then a lot of people died in their mid 40s. When there wasn’t the medicine that we have theses days and one must take in consideration that their lifestyle was a lot different than ours currently. They were exposed to a lot of sickness that had no cure. Back then a simple fever could kill someone.
So simply by saying that back in the days young girls married young is not legiate since their scenerio and lifespan expectency was very different tthan the 21st centrury.
Muslims also have ”honor killing”
not to long ago there was a case of a young girl who refused to wear the jigab, she was killed by her father with help of her older brother!!!
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/021433.php
you are telling me that had this young girl been married and wanted a divorce her father would not have justified in her killing because it was an honorkilling.???
I can understand that a lot of muslim women choose to turn a blind eye to things like this and say ”oh that hardly happens” but at the end of the day it still happens.
and one more thing, in regards to polygamis families, how is it any different than Muslim men having as many wifes as he wants just as long as he can maintain all of his wifes with the same love and financially as the other. How is that any different than having a polygamis household?
what people decide to do like so called honor killings is something they decide to do.
honor killings has nothing to do with islamic believes and i dont know why you people keep try to connect our islam to that crap. thats PURELY CULTURAL.
there are many muslim society where this does not happen. and many non muslim communities where it does happen, it depends on the crazy family that trying to please their neighboring, they are not trying to please Allah swt.
if you haters knew anything about islam you would know if a act is do for Allah swt or not.
but you are ignorant and you hate muslims and you hate your creator and you want to live life the way you like. so enjoy for now.
After watching the article picture, first thing comes in mind who are these people? earthquake victims, war Victims, or hungry family waiting for food?.... Why are they wearing dirty clothes? (As dirt spot can be seen on old man trouser) why girls wearing filthy and sullied shawl?.
Then I read the head line ”Young brides: A miserable life for little girls in Saudi Arabia”.Oooo. So these are Saudi Arabia people,OooH. But I though In saudia women have to cover her face? even if she is a daughter but in the picture it is not.
Then I go through the article, eyes filled with tears, as I read ”There are no such laws in Saudi Arabia that define the minimum age for marriage.”( can you married a 2 years girl? Sex with her? give her home Job? Impossible it cant be. then who could married so small girl, no one.
I remember the news in India if parents come to know they gonna have a girl, they have the abortion before birth. And if she is born she been married at adult age of 8, 9,10, 11.
He He He. Funny world
Holly, good luck ... there’s always an answer trying to refute what is clearly written.
this blog is to degrade and belittle the muslim woman plain and simple and i as a african american muslim woman can spot HATE a mile alway....
africansnon white brown peoples of the world and muslims feel the pain, and fight through it.
AMINAH SAID: Aminah (Who am I?) | Feb 7 2009
what people decide to do like so called honor killings is something they decide to do.
honor killings has nothing to do with islamic believes and i dont know why you people keep try to connect our islam to that crap. thats PURELY CULTURAL.
there are many muslim society where this does not happen. and many non muslim communities where it does happen, it depends on the crazy family that trying to please their neighboring, they are not trying to please Allah swt.
if you haters knew anything about islam you would know if a act is do for Allah swt or not.
but you are ignorant and you hate muslims and you hate your creator and you want to live life the way you like. so enjoy for now”
First of all we are talking about Muslim women in the middle east not Africa so if things are different there then be happy but don’t speak on behalf of women you do not come in contact with daily. To other women here who are angered by this blog, why? So what if this incident in singular, it happened or happens doesn’t matter if it’s cultural. We are talking about what happens not the religion itself allowing it to happen. Of course the religion might suggest otherwise but the man, the govt, will decide what happens. You are in denial about what is happening in your countries! Stay over there if you like it so much, we already have too many foreigners taking up our jobs, etc. If you are treated so respectively then why is this always on the news with reports coming from everywhere (not just cnn. or the bbc).
It is sick and disgusting the way men treat you, NOT YOUR RELIGION OR ALLAH, but your actual men. I love women and I love my mother n sister and treat them equally in whatever situation that happens. I feel terrible for you but you are in denial about what is going on in your country. So you don’t like the west ok fine but to disregard what we are finding out about in your lives, you have the audacity to get mad at us for learning. We have our issues too but the topic is women not other atrocities. I wish the only the best for Muslim women.
And I as an African American male concur as well. However sister, the reality is that sites like this are ripe for people to do must that.
However, you, I and all the other Muslims on this blog know that Allaah will have the final say so. ”Even though the disbelievers hate it.”
So no stress, we’ll settle it on Qiyamah. :)
I am not agree with the words of this article. Women have full liberty in islam. What is shown by words and picture of this article is cultural but not islamic.
Although this is cultural but at least people marry their daughters in early age and provide them family. Atleast prevent them from sex and children before marriage.
If we will see women of west, she is really not free. She got first sex with her first menstruation and get frist pregnancy at the age 14 (although she had also right of grownup for all of this stuff). No family future for her and that child .
At the age of 36 she feel need of marriage but find no man serious for her.
where is freedom, respect and honer for that western women.
I have been treated better after converting to Islam than I ever had been while I was catholic. I get more respect, I am not judged and My husband of 4 years treats me better than any of my friends husbands treat them.
That poor girl look scared
Ya sure they are poor, innocent and...
Wow this is just ridiculous. You have no idea...absolutely no idea what muslim women are about. Not all of us are ”forced” to wear the hijjab. We CHOOSE to wear it. Because it protects us from the problems women in the U.S. sometimes have to face such as sexual harassment from showing their bodies. It protects our reputation and our modesty. You know nothing about us or our religion. You think women in the middle eastern countries are oppressed? What about women here who are naked on television. These women get beaten by their husbands/boyfriends and or cheated on by their husbands/boyfriends, thats IF they get married. Divorce rates are through the roof. When you look at other countries all you ever see is the bad side not the good. And first of all dont talk bad about our religion, you guys dont even follow yours properly. The use of pork and adultery is forbidden in your religion, yet you still do it. If you want proof grab a Bible! Whats church for anyways if not to educate u about ur own religion. This type of dilemma only happens in uneducated families. It has nothing to do with ISLAM dont even start. I know there are alot of good American Women (and props to u all for that i highly respect u) but the image that the westernized tv and movies promote is ”women who are big breasted/half naked/skinny/pornstars/being used” etc. So Why not do an article on that side of the WEST? Why do you just single out one side of the world. Women in islam are liberated by the hijjab. Women in Islam have the right to choose their marriage partner. Do your research before you start. We are given the choice of marriage. We are not forced to be married of to random ppl. In the U.S. this young boy fathered a child? Now is that not somethign to write about? Does that not make you wanna throw up as well? Or must you always go and single out other countries, excluding ur own. Go do some research man theres alot of b.s. going on here in the U.S. behind closed doors.
Just have to say that you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the media, its corrupt. When was the last time you have gone to the US anyhow. My mom just recently went to Jordan to vistit Petra. Their my mom experienced some very uneasy things. On the way to petra my mom and stepdad who is israeli stopped in place to go to the bathroom, my mom proceeded inside and followed the the hall way to the bathroom, as my dad waited at the door he noticed that 4 men at the same time began walking quickly towards the bathroom but my dad without hesitation yelled at the men, who then cowered down back at their table, they did not realize that my stepdad was with her because she was a white female. My mom and stepdad go to visit many places in the middle east have been for 10 years now and there is always something that happens that is unsafe, mainly because of my mom not being native to their country, she is treated very poorly.
What about the miserable life of the pregnant teenagers in the West? A situation like this that u mention, This kind of stuff only happens in ignorant muslim households. Where these ppl are not even aware of the true religion. They dont read up on anything, they are bound my cultural customs and traditions that haev to do with what their stupid ancestors have taught them. You see it everywhere, in India, in many countries. Those countries are not muslim. So what now? As for the west, (I know not all of u are like this but) drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, does not liberate a person. Having sex with random ppl does not liberate a person. Having one night stands, and countless sex partners, its not liberating. And the idea of not knowing who your father is?
Its is really sad thats these things are taking place, a minor girl married to older males, well its hard to believe and its riduculous.
Islam does not encourage killing, oppression, battery or rape of Muslim women.
To make such bold statements like ’In Islam, there is no such concept of free will...They are treated as mere commodities in the hands of men... ’is blasphemous. Islam does not teach nor does it encourage such inhumane acts against women. The Quran is clear as to the role of women and the status of each in and outside the home, in politics, in social affairs etc.
However, the reality is, that men with diseased hearts take islamic principles and teaching to the extreme and use it to oppress women.
May Allah punish those who misrepresent Islam by oppressing our women.
Thus i m totally agree with you that Islam doesn’t encourage these bad works.
Ameen!
just different culture and different belief
I don’t think any of these people are haters of Islam / christianity / religion at all.
What they hate is what apears to be injustices towards their fellow human beings - that is not hatred, but care and compassion for other people with out a voice who live in this world too - otherwise they wouldn’t even bother to voice their opinion.
Its a valuable exchange of information to debate and clear up misconceptions.
The past is history and we need to learn the mistakes.
As for the treatment of women be it cultural or religious or otherwise, I suggest you see it for your selves on the internet, sign the petitions against these countries who commit atrocities and view the pictures (if you have the stomach) about the judicial case’s the histories and the reasons why they have the hangings/the stoneings/ the whippings with out any mercy or true justice.
Some women are murdered in front of their own children because the husband said she was unfaithful.
These stories are true, I can only support Amnesty International and have read many cases that are very cruel and sad, what human beings can do to other human beings in the name of ”ANYTHING”.
Dear Lynne,
Do you know what’s going on in India ? I was there recently and was exposed to some startling facts.
With a population of more than a billion 1.15 billion comprising of 80.4% hindus, the sex ratio amongst the hindus is the poorest after sikhs. Its 935 female per 1000 male. whats more it is worse in educated families.
Female foeticide , Sati and Dowry deaths are just too common.
In rural punjab a girl is forced to marry all the brothers in a family to prevent division of land.
I wish someone could write some articles on Sati and dowry deaths thats so much rampant amongst educated Hindus in India and abroad.
The treatment of women amongst Hindus is to be seen to be believed.
Young girls are married to Trees and dogs to release them from curse. Check out this movie ’Sati’.
The women has to sleep with an animal or priests to become clean when they astray. Its being portrayed in a famous bengali movie ’Antarmahal’.
I was in India recently and saw their plight of women in the hindu religious abode ’Vrindavan’ in Mathura. Homeland of Krishna. Its just inhuman to think the plight of Women and the way they are exploited by Hindu priests.
I wish someone from west write something on them. Their plights are never going to be exposed by Indian hindus.
Its more so important due to skewed male / female ratio due to female infanticide and foeticide which is so common in North Indian hindus.
With respect to you Lynne, if that is truly what the poster meant, then they should have prefaced the article with those words, and not slander or religion.
Say what you mean and mean what you say. (to the poster of the article)
You are correct. We should all learn from the past. The real question is, have we learned? Even after all the genocide we have seen, the world does next to nothing about Darfur. Such geocide might one day be turned to you or me for any number of ”reasons”. But as long as it doesn’t we don’t really care. As long as we are safe it matters not. Oh, we say it is terrible, poor things, someone really should do something about it. But who should do it? And what should they do?
What has been written is very sad.Unfortunately as someone pointed out its more prevalent in mostly uneducated families.
Whats interesting the article have been posted by Hindu ladies from India.
I wish they could write some articles on Sati and dowry deaths thats so much rampant amongst educated Hindus in India and abroad.
The treatment of women amongst Hindus is to be seen to be believed.
Young girls are married to Trees and dogs to release them from curse. Check out this movie ’Sati’.
The women has to sleep with an animal or priests to become clean when they astray. Its being portrayed in a famous bengali movie ’Antarmahal’.
I was in India recently and saw their plight of women in the hindu religious abode ’Vrindavan’ in Mathura. Homeland of Krishna. Its just inhuman to think the plight of Women and the way they are exploited by Hindu priests.
I wish someone from west write something on them. Their plights are never going to be exposed by Indian hindus.
Its more so important due to skewed male / female ratio due to female infanticide and foeticide which is so common in North Indian hindus.
Hi Jason
I ment to reply to you a bit earlier.
I have watched documentries on the treatment of Indian women, it was distressing and heartbreaking, seeing their suffering - women being set on fire, burned alive by their husbands unbelievable cruelty.
These poor women were in a sub standard hospital bed too frightened and scared in agonising pain, literally on their death beds and they still wouldn’t give evidence against their husbands who had viciously done it to them, because of their children - they were so worried what would become of them when they died (and they did) if the father was in jail.
So these vile men just keep getting away with it as if it were their right to mistreat and cruely murder their wife and mother of his children.
It seems to be a very common practice.
I don’t know if anything much has improved since I saw that documentry, it was disturbing.
Dear Mr Jason, Dont seem to understand the same comment u are giving again and again mentioning in India this.. in India that all these based on examples from movies. I advice you wake up from the realms of movies, these are movies with social messages. I truly agree the drastic and barbaric acts of sati, dowry deaths , Female infanticide still exists in India. But comming of time and age these are and will be decreasing. The main reason for all these to happen here is basic education and poverty. Like you said more than Billion population, yet more than 75% below poverty line as defined by world Bank (people who earn less than 1$ a day). For these people the only relief is to follow blind faith. What i meant with education is not by getting them to the higest degree but rather primarily putting some sense into their minds. If you can get ur hands on India’s laws you find them as designed specially for womens benefit. Dont think any other country has such laws. One more thing I am not an Indian, but had been living her for more than 24 years.
And to Ms Lynne, yes they are scared and scarred for life. More than 90% of them dont know that the law protects them in every stage all they just have to do is speak against the wrong doer. But still due to Corruption (The current root cause of all illdoings inthis country) this doesnt work quite effectively, that is till the news reaches any one of the news media in this country. This point onwards they carry the news in such way that the government is humiliated and they take strict action against all erring. Hope you would compare the statistics 10 years before and today.
thats very tru. thanx 4 pointing this out. the caste system alone is enough to giv a sane prson nausea. to think that there is actually a caste, the dalits, called the ”untouchables” yet three dalit women r raped evry day in india by men of ”superior” castes.
Hello. Regardas for arabs of the world. I Think that for medical rasons is better smaller.
I think it happened in all country but not more than this country.
In this not women can go to mall in evening and also not with his daughter
I always like Muslim girls. Because they have nice things.
I m totally agree with you, because they are innocent.
....is not from Saudi Arabia. There is also no evidence to say it is a wedding photograph except disgisting Hindu propaganda...
”Never try to find holes in religion. Religion never teach us cruelty. It’s the name of love. must try to avoid torture to innocents” always respects all what ever it may man or women, all are human being
Pooja, so much written already above in response to your story. Indeed, shocking as it not only shows the mental level of the people in those places but also shows the social structure prevailing which though sounds hypothetical yet something is required to be dome to protect these hapless children who don’t even know what marriage is lest married life. Pooja, honestly the only reaction I get after reading such things is frustration. Indeed, a thoughtful story.
i think it happen anywhere in this world
Anywhere else it would considered child abuse.
For whatever is written, Islam, Christian, Hindu the intent was for the good of mankind. Sadly the context of many wise words are taken to suit the needs of an individuals own purpose, or create a community to suit. Many of those innocent simple folk are mislead into beliefs on a twisted road called religion. So it has been for centuries.
Today being so global and easy to communicate many layers of cultures like curtains to a window are drawn back for all to see in.
Understanding and education to uplift mankind across all race colour and creed,is needed: not attack. It is part of all cultures to have beliefs, it is how they are delivered that begs the question.
Women and Islam on which one comment space is so small to comment on. From whatever of Quran and hadith I’ve read, I think there is no freedom to women in Islam. Now, I mean there may be respect given to women in Islam, but no freedom. I am not going to paste any verse that speaks about women in Islam (or I would be alleged for defaming Islam and blah blah), but one question remains.
Why has the Arab world not been able to deliver one good businesswomen in 1400 years like Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet?
And was the prophet respecting of women? i don’t think so. Just after after Khadijah’s death, a month after he told to Abu Bakr about marrying Aisha, and upon Abu bakr’s request did not touch her for 3 years. he became a sexual butterfly just some time after Khadijah’s death. Safiya, a Jewish wife was married by him the same day when he killed her husband, and many people from her tribe.
Mariyah, a maid of Haifa, (another of prophet’s wives), was a beautiful one from Egypt. Prophet eyed her, sent an errand to Haifa saying her father has called her, and enjoyed that available time to do his business with Mariyah.
Zainab, was the wife of one of his adopted sons. He was excited upon seeing her in her home clothing. And then his Allah came up and validated his marriage with Zainab.
It is worth noting that Allah acted as a pimp at various places, but where did he respect women? he even allowed his men to have sex with the women that were captives taken in a war (right hand possession). See Chapter 33, Verse 49 - 50.
i mean no offense to Muslims, but shouldn’t all this be critically examined by muslims themselves before others start pointing out?
It is important to understand Quran in context, not just 4 verses up and 4 verses down, but the context in which muhammad said what (or Allah revealed what in other words), and what were his likely motives behind this. An analysis of the prophet is a must.
clearly you dont read the magazines out there that speak about muslim women as entrepreneurs. Any google search for successful muslim women will yield mounds of results for you.
check out http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1278 and http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/newsdetails.aspx?srch=1&storyid=186107, or you can view/down load this http://philippines.usaid.gov/documents/sukstoris/conflict/basar.pdf.
There. That should get you going.
Who are we to critical analysis any single Prophet.
Remember one thing Prophet every action have willingness of Allah(GOD). We are not able to understand his wisdom. So try to under what was reason behind all that.
All Prophet were human as well so they had full filled all human needs and also it is way to tell their follower in which condition what is appropriate action.
A very interesting article thank you for your enlightment.
I believe it is hight time mankind grew up and started to honestly question antiquated nonsense belief systems, which have been passed down from generation to generation in ignorance, and caused so much pain, sorrow and misery on this earth.
People need to wake up be educated and research the evidence of facts, about this planet, its history, science and biology not superstitious wishful/fearful thinking.
I believe if it wasn’t for ”fearful religious domination” holding mankind back for so many centuries, we probably would have had this technology that we enjoy now - 500 years ago.
Hello everyone, I have been reading everyone’s comments with great interest.
Does anyone else find it weird to see an advert for Asian brides at the top of this article on this site? With different perspectives - the article and comments seem to be talking about marriage as contractual ownership of women and girls (whether religious or cultural or social); whether agreed with or not agreed with. And here is an advert which seems to advocate the selling of women to men for marriage. What a strange coincidence.
Kx
This is all some bull crap,it just shows how sensitive and dis-obedient women and some men to God. There are some valid points but i hate when people who don’t know anything about a religion speaks AND express their feelings .
In the USA there is more rape murder child molesters baby killing and women abuse then probably in the whole Arab countries combined ,not to mention incest cases.Some advanced civilized race. And this blog is all about self righteous dummies with mouths who don’t know when to shut it up.
When you and your country realistically becomes advanced over other nations, then talk and when your nation is cleared of all these things you speak of...then maybe you can run your mouths
STILL DONT GET IT HUH...IT MEANS CLEAN UP YOUR OWN VERY MESSY BACKYARD FIRST..THEN TALK ABOUT OURS.IF YOUR COUNTRY DONT DO IT THEN TALK ..UNTIL THEN...ZIP IT .
Hey Pooja
Try to differentiate between Muslims and Arabs. Arabs are community and Muslims are people who follow Islam. So, we are telling about Arabs, even this happens in India too, chaild marriage in Rajasthan and other states. Even killing of Girl child when they are born, so dude just do not go with the flow always, judge it and decide. I am living in Saudi Arabia for past 5 years, this country is the safest than other countries. There are many western expats who are living here for decades. Even policemen is also hanged or executed here in public if he rape or murder.
Well said Zakir. It’s merely a propaganda against the Muslim countries.
Pooja
Why did you forget to mention that child marriage was an Indian culture also? even in some parts of India it is still observed. Rather than highlighting particular country you should try to find out the root cause behind the problem.
actually pooja i think there r some people out there who want to condemn islam as a wierd voodoo kind of culture without even reading the quran. there are lots of other cultures where this is practiced. american girls often start living like married women even have childern around the age of 13 or 14. it just isnt LEGAL if they get MARRIED. isnt that plain stupid? and in africa... just google those guys customs. same for india. but its only islam that has to b criticised
In Europe and US it is very usual 10 years girls are raped even by her father and brother. That is not miserable life for those girls? They are not considering as crime. Nowhere is free will in those society and religion? Is it breath where in every 5th second women is getting raped. Now where is law in those countries?
I must say this man is far better than those people( not saying what is done is also good) at least this girl is in his nikha everyone know she is her wife he is suppose to fulfill husband duties as described by Islam. He cant abuse her.
marriage requires informed consent. 11 or 9 year old girl is hardly able to give her informed consent.
so this nikah is simply bad joke - invalid by all the means.
- fulfill husband duties as described by Islam.
yes, among her so praised ”rights” given by islam is missing one fundamental - she cannot refuse sex witout the fear that she may be beaten as the disobedient wife - and that is islamic right of her husband.
so islam enables men to rape (any sex between minor and adult is a rape) minor girls and put the veneer of legality by some parody on marriage called nikah.
Here you people are only talking about Hazrat Ayesha that she was 6 years when she got married with Hazrat Muhammed(PBUH) Well Hazrat Muhammed Married with 14 women some were widow some were elder then him.
If you people are even true Christian or Jews then you should know Hazrat Muhammed was prophet from Allah (GOD) about whom Jesses and Moses had also informed and certified.
You all might also be aware of that not a single action of Prophet could be against willingness of GOD.
There was reason behind Hazrat Muhammad marriage with young girl and it was people of coming would not start considering it crime( in my understanding). So in some unavoidable circumstance you can marry to young girl where there is no other option like some orphanage girl or any other situation like this.
If this present era Muslim start misinterpreting things then it doesn’t means it is fault in Islam or Prophet.
and i agree. plus i think he treated her like a kid till she herself wanted to b treated as a wife around 14 i think.
What a miserable life for these little girls. (Sigh)!
WHAT A MISERABLE LIFE OF THOSE little girls who are raped in US.
You are not providing any prove of his address, name when this marriage had occurred date and place of this event.
In response to what Zakir said on Jul 2 2009, it is impossible to distinguish between Muslim culture and Arab culture because no Muslims are standing up and saying there is a difference. If Muslims really want to stop this ’Islamophobia’ they need to stand up and say that the horrific practices such as forced marriages and the oppression of women (obeying her husband etc) do not have anything to do with Islam. Currently there is little evidence that the Arab culture and Muslim cultue are not the same.
People stop saying God... everywhere. It does exists as such. Have you seen him/her with your own eyes. If yes tell me how does he/she looks like. If you recall religion is just a set of practices start by few wise or say smart people(for the reason it survived so many years without any degradation). People spend Billions of money for the sake of jus religion. Make a heart and start spedning for humanity. Hurting/injuring anyone in the name of religion or faith is nuthing but a cowardly act to hide his/her own mistakes. The ones who keep these religions alive are we, ourselves. If we dont change the religion or faith wont ever. and we will be stuck ever in this religion bashing and country bashing sessions.
YOU SAID IT!I am with you 100% on this one.If religious wars have to be fought for ’GOD’,how can he be considered omnipotent? Why does he expect you to pray to him ,if he is all seeing,benevolent,kind etc.?
Does he expect us to do nothing else in our lives but keep singing his praises?That’s understandable in the case of a megalomaniac, but GOD???.An omnipotent GOD could easily[????] stop all the bad things happening in life,but he doesn’t why?Probably he is addicted to dramas!I am absolutely amazed by the capacity of the human mind to be deluded and brainwashed!What we need is good human beings,not religious bigots!
its not good..
Get a clue. I’m a Muslim girl and I study Computer Engineering, I travel around the world alone and with the consent of my family. I have friends and acquaintance of both sexes, and I can marry whoever I want whenever I want. It’s not because I’ve had a good and open-minded upbringing, which I do. But I owe it first to my most understanding religion. The reason what you’re talking about happens is that all Muslim countries are being ruled by idiots who know nothing of Islam, secretly hate it and want to lead it to a slow and painful death. They could disregard its teachings all together, but obviously it’s even better for them to disregard its teaching _and_ advocate that what they’re practicing is the real Islam.
May be! But by their callous behaviour they are causing Islam to lose whatever credibility it has in the eyes of non Muslims ,who are so arrogantly dismissed as being infidels.Respect and tolerance is a two way traffic
Religion sucks.
We all know that in saudi arabia there so many unfear treatments of women and in many arabian countries ... In fact, the peole Outside think that those people are 100% muslims and they are dealing very well with the religion orders and stuff like that, but they are wrong, islam doesn’t required to treat womens as such dishumanity, if you read coran and mohamet’s life, you’ll see that there a lot of difference between those acts and what was written by god on his sacred book the Coran. So all i can say that Islam is so mcuh far and so innocent of these selfish acts
I was just reading about these poor girls having to marry old men in most of the Arab countries, this is so wrong and we should do something to protect the girls that at least come into our country from this disgusting practise that these men do. How can those men thing they are better because they are men bull.... God made us all the same and maybe he is a woman.
Stop the killing of young women you men should be ashamed of your self Thow shall not kill
There is a difference between Islam and Muslims.
There is a difference between Culture and Religion.
God sent us a book which clearly states that all men and women are equal. That’s all we need to know and need to understand. If you follow anything else you are ignorant because you believe stereotypes and generalize Islam. Period.
Just because some extremist who go over the top and are unfair to women doesn’t mean Islam teaches us that.
The prophet who we follow as a role model; the book sent by Allah clearly states that.
Your argument that the prophet married an early aged woman is invalid. Why don’t you read and understand. These people were desert dwellers. They matured at an earlier age, then we do nowadays. These kids we see now were men back then (Ali (R) for example). Just because society now deems marriage at an early age is wrong doesn’t mean it is really wrong then. You don’t need to get married at an certain age, i.e 18 or over, if you matured then you can.
Maturity is when your body is ready for sexual activity, your mind can make solo decisions. You’re an adult.
Here are rights that Muslim women have.
1. The right and duty to obtain education.
2. The right to have their own independent property.
3. The right to work to earn money if they need it or want it.
4. Equality of reward for equal deeds.
5. The right to express their opinion and be heard.
6. The right to provisions from the husband for all her needs and more.
7. The right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice.
8. The right to obtain divorce from her husband, even on the grounds that she simply can’t stand him. (pls note that God deeply frowns upon divorce as a solution unless there is hardly any other alternative but it does not mean that men have more right to divorce their wives than women do.)
9. The right to keep all her own money (she is not responsible to maintain any relations).
10. The right to get sexual satisfaction from her husband.
11. custody of their children after divorce.
12. to refuse any marriage that does not please them
and more...
It all sounds good in theory but its not what the rest of the world is witnessing or understanding in reality. Especially in dominant muslim countries.
Sure women have these rights, whether written or not, it is the men in her family that have the final say. The womens rights you are talking about does not apply to Muslim women.
Aamire
could you please explain the difference between Islam and muslims, and the difference between culture and religion.
Islam: Set of rules and guidelines, a religion. The book sent down by Allah and given to us by the prophet.
(followed by)
Muslim (or non muslims): People who follow Islam. Have a free will of choice either to follow those rules or not, can create rules, dictates rules, perfect the rules etc. What is allowed and what is not depends.
An example:
Laws: Set of rules or guidelines governed by society
(followed by)
The community: Just because criminals breaks the law doesn’t mean that the law is wrong or the community is liable for it damages.
Religion: Your belief system
Culture: A persons personal understanding or principal which may be good or bad. Traditions passed on from family.
God sent us a book which clearly states that all men and women are equal. That’s all we need to know and need to understand. If you follow anything else you are ignorant because you believe stereotypes and generalize Islam.
As a Muslim, we don’t like this stuff. We think it’s wrong as well, if the women does not want to get married then she shall not be forced. We don’t believe what these terrorist do for the sake of ”Islam”. Ask a normal Muslim and he will say that these stuff are wrong. But what can we do, each to their own right?
Sorry for my bad English, not a native.
wow...I’m not sure what’s more disgusting... That old man with that poor child or the blogs that are posted here. It’s disgusting and inhumane for these men to wed young girls. Girls who have not fully understood what is going on and why. Men like this in America would rot in jail for their immoral pedophilia. I understand the comments that address the cultural differences. But that’s sick! You’re completely right, this has been done for centuries before this story came out but it does not justify it. The incredible thing about us human beings is that we have the ability to EVOLVE, to change our belief systems, our opinions, etc. This just shows how uneducated some individuals are. it disgusts me that we live in a world where these type of things occur. I don’t care what culture takes part in this, it’s disgusting.
Hi Jenny,
I agree with you 100%. I have researched and studied women who are Muslims and they have NO rights. The men of the faith make all the rules and the women suffer.
@ Diana et al-
You claim to have researched and studied Muslim women, really? I’m sure that you failed to even converse with one single Muslim women!
I am a Muslim Women, a British convert to Islam, now living in Saudi Arabia where believe it or not, life is wonderful! Not at all like the media portrayal, and I mix with both locals and foreigners.
All these self-proclaimed experts on Islam, wishing to speak on behalf of Muslim women, believe me, we women of Islam are not even slightly convinced by the inaccuracies of articles like the one above or any of the ignorant comments that followed. So much hatred thinly disguised as ’pity’ and ’compassion’.
So many claiming to have ’studied’ and ’researched’ the position and rights of women in Islam, picking and choosing Quranic verses and Hadith from here and there, without even understanding the full context of such sources, nor having any knowledge of the true Islamic scholarly interpretations, or even the Arabic language! How absurd, and how obstinate, that even when faced with Muslim women like myself, who practice their religion, and know their religion better, and clearly state that we Muslim women have been given many rights and actually love practicing Islam, all we ever hear is ’’brainwashed’’, ’’marginalised’’, blah, blah, blah.
This poor excuse of an article (above) is just an example of the kind of ignorance that prior to Islam I actually used to base my opinions on.
There are no facts stated, and the picture alone proves how shoddy the attempt was to provide authenticity to the claims made about the lives of young girls in Saudi Arabia. That certainly is NOT a Saudi wedding, I mean how ignorant does the author think the readers are.
I used to have a strong dislike for Islam UNTIL I decided to free my mind from such prejudice and ignorance and actually study and find about the religion that I disliked so much. Where did I start? I studied the position and rights of women in Islam according to the Islamic sources only, putting aside the cultural practices that have nothing to do with Islam. That’s the key. What I found out surprised me to say the least,... and the rest is history!
Umma
anyone can research and study the facts about the lives of muslim women in various countries around the world in all its forms, these days with technology, the internet and the migration of people.
You are obviously a fortunate person to be able to choose what religion you want to follow and where you want to live. The majority of the worlds population is not so fortunate and do not have these choices to live idyllic lives.
I do not believe that the many people on these blogs are hateful towards Islam as you say disguised ”as pity and compassion” but express a very genuine concern for our fellow human beings.
I know the absolute outrage I feel with tears of saddness and disgust for the wretched women who are slowely, painfully stoned to death, hung and murdered by the judical system in muslim countries in the name of Islam.
Its all there on the internet for everyone to watch in all its gory horror - take a look and educate yourself the key is - stop thinking only about yourself and do something positive to improve not only the image of Islam but for humanity’s sake too.
These horror and honour killings whether cultural or religious should be history!
Lynne K reading through your post I still don’t think you know anything about ISLAM.
Everyone has a free will to decide on which religion to pick. If they don’t, they try their best to get on the right path.
You obviously don’t know a lot about the stoning a Muslim. Why don’t you read about it and read the rules before stoning another person.
Everyone has different opinions to whether capital punishment is a good thing or not. It’s been, and still is implemented even with non-Muslim countries.
@ Lynne,
Obviously you have not read through my previous post properly and even if you have, then clearly you have failed to comprehend my words.
Enough is enough! It’s time that voices of the women of Islam, who live and breath their religion be heard.
Why is it that whenever we Muslim women have anything positive to say about our OWN position and rights in Islam, we are told to go away and ’educate’ ourselves?! Alas you have truly failed to understand my words, as it is EDUCATION that brought me and a great numbers of other women to Islam in the very first place!
The desire and wish to rid ourselves from the previous ignorance and prejudice that had imprisoned us. Free your mind! Relying upon articles, (such as the above), as your main source of information about Islam is misguided. Where are the FACTS about women in Islam in the above article or any of the other articles on this very blog?
This is ignorance based upon ignorance. So many inaccuracies presented as ’facts’ seeking to link bad CULTURAL practices to Islam. This does nothing more than spread prejudice and hatred and in what way does that help humanity, or the plight of women around the world?
As a Muslim woman who has visited a number of countries in the Middle East, and who has met many Muslim women, from all over the world (my sisters in Islam). I state that we Muslim women unanimously agree that the information, contained in articles like the one above does not in any way represent OUR experiences as Muslim Women in general. It is the ignorant cultural practices that cause oppression and not Islam. In fact it is only the true practice of Islam that will actually rid Muslim societies from any form oppression.
So stop shedding your tears for us, we have Islam to protect the rights of the abused. ISLAMIC education is the key for Muslim Women. Save your tears for all the Non-Muslim Women of other religions, cultures and nations who face subjugation, discrimination, and sexual exploitation. Rape, abuse, domestic violence, prostitution, child abuse and sex trafficking. Not to mention the plight of non-Muslim women in terms of how badly many are severely affected by the consequences of AIDS, drug abuse, poverty, lack of decent education, the list goes on and on. Wake up and do something positive about that if you care so much. Abuse, subjugation and oppression is happening to non-Muslim women right now in your own back yards and under your very noses. Yet there is no mention of any religion when the perpetrators of abuse are Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, or followers of any other religion. Society doesn’t care to know about the religion of the CHRISTIAN man (for example) who beats and kills his wife as everyone agrees that this Christian man’s religion has nothing to do with his crime. But When it is a Muslim man who commits a crime of the very same nature, the very first thing we hear are the words, ’Islam’ ’Muslim’ and ’honour killing’ etc. There is no ’honour’ in the murder of any woman regardless of her religion. Islam doesn’t prescribe ’honour killings’, learn the facts of Islam from Islamic sources.
Anyone who truly wanted to educate themselves about the rights of women in Islam would research about Islam from it’s very sources, the tenets and foundation of Islam can be found in its entirety in the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic narrations which Muslims refer to as Hadith. If you genuinely want to know about the lives of women in Islam then get out there and meet and discuss with Muslim women themselves. We know better and are happy to discuss when politely asked.
Now that’s what I call real research!
So funny photo
are you sure dis photo from Saudi???
who said dat is marriage photo???
der s no relation n father & daughter
they cant sit together.???
saudi man using dis kind of dress???
I hope the article serves as an eye-opener to the governments and officials who remain silent and embarrassed and can’t or don’t want to do anything to stop it due to the pressure coming directly or indirectly upon them from within or outside the society in the shape of a cleric, socialist or conservative.
No one can attest to the accuracy of this article, but what is apparent is that the marrying of older men to young girls, CHILDREN, I should say, does happen, and it most likely happens not only in Muslim countries, but all around the world. Now, this article mentions Islam, and one can easily make the connection based on the fact that, as mentioned by many of you, even those who practice Islam, the prophet Mohammed did marry Aisha when she was six years old... a child. Keeping in mind that most, if not all, religions have ”controversial” aspects and events in their history, I have to say that in no way is my intention to attack Islam... because 1)I simply do not know enough about it to even attempt it, and most importantly 2)I have no right to do so, no one does, and everyone is free to follow their own beliefs, so long as these beliefs do not harm anyone else. Now, that said, I do have to express my opinion, and that is, that in no context can I find acceptable the marriage of a CHILD to a grown man, nor the consumation of such marriage when this child is only 9 years of age. Again, this is my opinion, what I feel, and not an attack to those who find this acceptable based on what their own prophet did 1400 years ago. But for me, under no circumstance (accelerated maturity, or whatever) can sex between a grown man and a child be considered as anything other than pedofilia. No matter in what context, or even if explained by ”people of knowledge” can I look at it in any other way... The most disturbing part of it all, is that it still happens today, every day, whether it’s child molestation, or disguised by what should be a sacred union between an adult man and an adult woman, marriage.
I have been fortunate enough to have lived in my home country, Saudia Arabia, as well as in a bunch of other countries thanks to a family affiliation with the UN. Let me first say that any atrocity like the ones discussed here is deplorable, no matter what culture, country, or religion. But discussing one in particular, as we are here, does not mean that we find the others acceptable. It just means that in this space we are discussing one particular topic, which is what subject-specific blogs such as this one are for. That said, as a Muslim woman now living in the west, I do think many Islamic women are in denial about what rights are afforded them in Islam-dominated societies. For example, Saudi society is ruled completely and at times viciously by what the men there have determined to be the law of Allah as given to us by His Prophet (Peace be upon Him). And that law is quite oppressive to women, let’s be honest. The Saudi women (myself included when I am living there) are VERY restricted in their behaviour and in their choices. For example, I could not ”choose” to have my hair cut by a male hair stylist while living there, could I? I could not ”choose” to get in a taxi driven by a man by myself to go wherever I wanted, could I? I could not ”choose” to give a friend from University a ride home, or even to just take a walk around campus together, if that friend was male, could I? I can’t even drive there! I could not ”choose” to go into any restaurant where there is no family section, could I? Because the religious police (Hay’ah) could arrest, beat, or detain me indefinitely for any of these things. And note that this is the religious police, not the cultural police and is therefore claimed as Islamic, not Arabic, in nature. I’m sorry ladies, but that is the truth. The truth is, Islam in practice has a long way to go before we can stand up proudly (and honestly) in public and defend our place in its’ current practice as being equal.
LOL! Ummu will deny this!Unfortunately,theory and practice are as alike as chalk and cheese in religious matters.Practical things are vital in real life and matter a lot for the common folks.Sad to say personal prejudices fail most people in their quest for the truth.They are too intoxicated by the beauty of their holy books to be in tune with reality.
@ Commonsense Liver, you make absolutely NO sense in your comment at all. LOL I’m not on trial here, I have nothing to deny. I speak on behalf of the practising Muslim women who LOVE their religion and way of life. These are the Muslim women who study Islam from its correct and authentic sources and choose to live their lives according to its teachings and not some cultural aberration of the religion.
We, practising Muslim women know our religion, our rights and deal with the practicalities of Islam every single day! Our experiences are good ones, so get over it! Islam is a perfect religion, marred at times (but not blemished) by the cultures of those who claim to follow it. The article above does not reflect our lives at all!
@Aamj Amjad, with all due respect, you have sugar coated the issues with regards to the rights afforded Muslim women. ’’Islamic Women’’ CHOOSE Islam and with that we CHOOSE to implement the correct Islamic teachings in our lives, we see the benefits and wisdoms of the Islamic laws manifest in our lives every day. As a practising Muslimah I would, (using your examples) hate to have my hair styled by a non related male, I would hate to be alone with a non related male too, so obviously I would never choose to do so. I stand up proudly and honestly, and say that there IS equality in this, as these ’rules’ apply to Muslim men too, or did that escape your notice? A Muslim man could not choose a female stylist whom he is not related to and neither should he be alone with non related females etc. From the perfection of Islam is that it cuts at the very roots of evil, and practising Muslims see the very wisdom in that and agree too.
But in reality as much as I love living in Saudi Arabia, and have had many good experiences as a practising Muslim woman living here, as a country Saudi Arabia is not the personification of Islam. Islam does not solely belong to any particular race, tribe or ethnicity. It is a universal religion that belongs to us all (Muslims) and that is one of the many beauties of this religion. So people should stop wasting their time and efforts in trying to prove that if Saudi Arabia is bad Islam is bad too.
Always interesting about Islam world :)
And what exactly is that supposed to mean?
This article is a joke, as a muslimah, that is a muslim woman, I can assure you that this article talks about everything but Islam, you are so far from the truth, thanks anyway for that try.
”~ thanks anyway for that try”
Do you suffer from a persecution complex like your other brothers and sisters?
forced marriage happening everywhere?
I do not remember the forced marriage in my country - at least 70 years.
maybe even 100 years.
so it is islamic thing, because an underage virgin can be married without asking.
Secondly:
Marrying a young girl before she reaches the age of adolescence is permitted in sharee’ah; indeed it was narrated that there was scholarly consensus on this point.
(a) Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the ‘Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubt (about their periods), is three months; and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise”
[al-Talaaq 65:4]
In this verse we see that Allaah has made the ‘iddah in the case of divorce of a girl who does not have periods – because she is young and has not yet reached puberty – three months. This clearly indicates that Allaah has made this a valid marriage.
(b) It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married her when she was six years old, he consummated the marriage with her when she was nine and she stayed with him for nine years.
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4840; Muslim, 1422)
so Quran clearly condones sexual consummation of marriage even when the ”wife” is not menstruating.
no sane man is attracted and aroused by a 9 year old girl.
those who are, are diagnosticised by 302.2, pedophilia.
Indeed Quran states that a girl can marry from ’the onset of menstruation’
However - no age is set for her ’husband’ - hence uncounted thousands of pedophile marriages in Islamic countries such as Egypt, Yemen, S.A., Afghanistan.
Blame it on ’the good example of the prophet Mohammed’ who ’married’ the child Aisha - why Muslim men do as old and older as Mohammed at the time.
The results of these child marriages, particularly to old men, are life-long trauma - and early death by rape or childbirth.
@ ummu
Why do you ”LOVE” your religion?
How come that I think it is the most monstrous ’religion’ possible - particularly for women?
You did nót ’choose Islam’ if you were ’born a muslim’ from muslim parents - every ’muslim’automaticallt becomes ’muslim’ - moreover forbidden to leave”
with the death-sentence permitted in case Muslims want to ’leave the Muslims’ - but LAUGHABLE - by simultanously saying ’Allah knows and sees everything’- including
apostasy.
”These are the Muslim women who study Islam from its correct and authentic sources”
Nonsens! The orginal Koran has disappeared - meaning the original suras written by Muhammed’s scribe. Koran was published some 200 years after the death of Muhammed - nobody can verify anything ’original’ about suras. Hadiths are written by people; and selectively applied by various people to ’ interprete’ suras in Koran.
Sunah of ’prophet’ there is no proof that Mohammed said what that says - nor of his ’holy life story’ - instead we have
Muslim, Bukhari, and his biographer who all say that Muhammed was a thief, a cruel, merciless man, a rapist of a little girl and slave-women, a mass-murderer, a war-mongerer amongst tribes, wanted LOOT - his part of the ’war-booty’ and amongst that slave-WOMEN for his ’holy’ bed! Obviously too busy with sex for ’his holiness’.
”Islam is a perfect religion,”
”Perfect” that your ’prophet’ married the NINE year old - Aisha - Your ’prophet’ guilty that little girls are still raped in ’marriage’by old men like your ’prohet’was?
Backed up by Koran’s permission for girls marrying ’from onset of menstruation’. Perfect?
”Perfect” those barbaric cruel SHARIA punishments taken from Koran? cutting off hands and feet, ’of the thief’ ’100 lashings with the whip’for adultery?
STONING TO DEATH?
”Perfect” POLYGAMY of which women are the victims? HE can have FOUR women in HIS one bed? SHE has to wait for her sex - until HE is ready with one of his other 3 women? and ludricously said by Muslim women ’we all get our - equal - bit of his sex’ shameful self-subjugation by Muslim women manipulated by Koran/Muhammed!
”Perfect religion” these suras speak only of SUBJUGATION of women using violence ’if need be’ - with ’holy permission’:
”Khutba 83: O People! Women suffer from three deficiencies: of faith, of mind, and of a share in heritage. Their deficiency in religion is apparent from the fact that at certain times they keep away from prayers and fasting. Deficiency of mind could be gauged from the circumstance that two female witnesses are considered equal to one male, and deficiency in shares of heritage is plain from the incident, that their share is equal to half of the share of male members.”
”4.34. ”Men are the guardians of women, because Allah has given men superior characteristics, and because women spend their richess [meaning men earn the dough]. Good women are therefore women, who are obedient [!] to men, and keep the secret [virgin] which Allah gave for them to protect. And for those women, of whom you [husbands] fear disobdience, admonish them and leave them alone in their beds [deny her sex], and punish them. If [!] they are then obedient, seek no way against her”.
”And say to the believing women that then should lower their gaze and guard their modesty, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands of their sons, or the sons of their husbands or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons or their women or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known... (Surah an-Noor:31)
Men are protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more strength than the other, and because they support them from their means. (Surah an-Nissaa:34).
And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display of yourselves like that of the former times of ignorance. (Surah Ahzab:33). O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters and believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when outside). (Surah Ahzab:59).
Keep yourself away from the wiles of wicked women, and do not indulge too much even in good ones. Do not blindly follow their advice even in good deeds, so that they may not be tempted to lead you toward bad ones.
Jealousy in women is unpardonable, but in man it is a sign of his faith in religion (because Islam has permitted polygamy and prohibited polyandry.”
’Most inhabitants in Hell are women’ by your ’prohet’ Muhammed.
”Perfect” childmarriages in Koran ’from onset of menstruation’,
”Perfect”POLYGAMY; and ’just for HIM’?
You must be joking with ’perfect religion’!
I am glad to see we are still commenting on this issue (we are only in trouble when we STOP talking about things) Early marriages were common all over the world. A very respected King of England married a 12 year old (it may have been in the 13th centary - i forget). I am sure Mohammed (pbuh)did what was culturally acceptable at the time. BUT NOONE HAS ANSWERED MY QUESTION: feb 13 - (as there is only one God) if Moses, Mohammed or Jesus were alive TODAY - knowing the advancements humams have made regarding medical knowledge, knowledge of anatomical development, social education - would they still be teaching the same things. eg. Girls pelvises are not mature at 9years, breasts are not mature until about 18years (the list could go on so i will stop). Surely we would get further towards understanding if we focused on what we could be doing NOW to advance Respect, Love and Mercy. WHO is responsible for the LAWs that reflect societies expectations (regardless of the poorly educated). Hopefully the law makers are NOT poorly educated too. Surely (Allah/God) ALL our prophets have only wanted to create situations where we could show and live in the most honerable ways. In Australia I am ’allowed’ to speak to anyone of the opposite sex without either of us being beaten because it is EXPECTED that we will treat eachother as equal Humanbeings who will act responsibly AND be responsible for their own actions. We still have situations of abuse. But we also have laws to say this is not acceptable behaviour.
I look forwards to the next response. Peace.
@ Chris
child marriages were not at all common in Europe’ - they were some for inheritance reasons for kings such as you mention. Also a small kingly or princely boy who’d ran out of money (grin) was married to some wealthy princes - for inheritance reasons - power for the nobility with large lands and parts of Europe united this way.
The difference is that child-brides in Islam are ’blessed’ by ’holiness’ -the ’holy’ Quran (God for Muslims!) that allows little girls to be raped by older men in so-called ’marriages’.
’The prophet of Islam’ is also ’holy’ for Muslims - he is revered, supposedly ’holy’ WHY he is still the example for Muslim marrying little girls in S.A. and Yemen, Afghanistan ... these Muslim men have Quran and Muhammed as ’holy’ examples - and why this abysmally cruel practice continues ’it is holy so we are allowed to do so; and our holy prophet set the example’.
Even if millions of Muslims and their governments do not condone/allow child-marriages - millions of others do - hand on Quran.
the physical and psychological results of these little girls married off to older men is GRUESOME, always results in life-long trauma, a missed child-hood, torn vagina’s they bleed to death, die as still children themselves in child-birth ...
Why comparison cannot be made with girls in ’the West’ as Muslims attempt who do not want to face the truth that Muhammed must have been a pedophile to want (!) to marry his ’grand daughter’ Aisha.
And yes, of course Quran lacks the immense knowledge of Einstein and other such genius or not people-brained scientists
I think Muslim are pathetic claiming ’great scientific knowledge for Quran’- with too many contradictions and at least two MISTAKES by ’Allah’:
’Holy Mary” was never ”a goddess” in christianity
Mary was never ”one of the Three” (Trinity)
Means ’Allah’didn’t understand says Father/Son/MARY’ how embarrassing for ’Allah’.
I also think it is a joke that Muslim woman wear a headscarf for a ’prophet’ with some 12 women in his bed not exactly ’decent’; and then BELIEVE the excuse ’they were OLD widows’. How can anyone believe this for Muhammed who married a rich old widow, then a child -and raped his slave-women amongst whom the Coptic christen ’Mary’ by who Muhammed had a son (he not married to her!)
read this as eye-opener ’decent Islam’:
”As regards marriage, polygamy, and divorce, the Koran explicitly (sura iv, v. 3) allows four lawful wives at a time, whom the husband may divorce whenever he pleases. Slave-mistresses and concubines are permitted in any number. At present, however, owing to economic reasons, concubinage is not as commonly practiced as Western popular opinion seems to hold.
Seclusion of wives is commanded, and in case of unfaithfulness, the wife’s evidence, either in her own defense or against her husband, is not admitted, while that of the husband invariably is. In this, as in there judicial cases, the evidence of two women, if admitted, is sometimes allowed to be worth that of one man. The man is allowed to repudiate his wife on the slightest pretext, but the woman is not permitted even to separate herself from her husband unless it be for ill-usage, want of proper maintenance, or neglect of conjugal duty; and even then she generally loses her dowry, when she does not if divorced by her husband, unless she has been guilty of immodesty or notorious disobedience. Both husband and wife are explicitly forbidden by Mohammed to seek divorce on any slight occasion or the prompting of a whim, but this warning was not heeded either by Mohammed himself or by his followers. A divorced wife, in order to ascertain the paternity of a possible or probable offspring, must wait three months before she marries again. A widow, on the other hand, must wait four months and ten days. Immorality in general is severely condemned and punished by the Koran, but the moral laxity and depraved sensualism of the Mohammedans at large have practically nullified its effects.”
Quran/Mohammed not only deny basic Human Rights - but cause uncountable crimes each days by oppression and inequality of women, child marriages; and by SHARIA’s gruesome punishments that are the Koran’s INQUISITION - death for apostacy, death for criticising Koran/Mohammed, death for infidelity:
SICK:
Volume 3 Number 508: The Prophet said, ’O Unais! Go to the wife of this (man) and if she confesses (that she has committed illegal sexual intercourse), then stone her to death.’
Muslim 680 The Prophet said: ”When an unmarried couple fornicate they should receive one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. In the cases of a married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death. If one of the pair is unmarried, one hundred lashes and exile for a year.
Hadith Malik 493:1520 Ma’iz bin Malik came to Abu Bakr and said: ”I am a base fellow for I have committed adultery.”
Abu Bakr replied: ”Repent before the Lord and tell no one else.” The man still felt guilty and went to Umar who gave him the same reply. Still feeling guilty he went to the Prophet who asked if he was ill or mad, married or single. On hearing that Ma’iz was healthy and married, the Prophet ordered him to be stoned to death.
Hadith Malik 493:1524 The Prophet was told: ”My son was employed with this man; he committed adultery with his wife. I gave 100 sheep and a slave girl in compensation.” The Prophet said: ”Take back your sheep and your slave girl. Your son will receive 100 lashes and a year in exile. As the adulteress has confessed she will be stoned.”
Hadith Malik 493:1530 Ibn Shihab said that a man committing sodomy should be stoned whether he be married or unmarried.
Hadith Malik 496:1540 A man went on a journey with the slave-girl of his wife and went into her. The envious wife reported it to Umar who said the husband would be stoned unless the slave girl was owned by him. The wife spoke out to save him: ”I had given her as a gift.”
Sahih Bukhari, 11:2073 The Prophet said: “If any slave marries without the permission of his masters, he is a fornicator.“
Of course Koran cannot be God who knew less than Einstein ...; and ’Allah’ made mistakes says ’Holy Mary is goddess in christendom’; and ’one of the three’(the Trinity) Holy Mary is not GOD - as ’Allah’ says.
Problem is particularly ’sharia’ laws that were taken from orders in Koran and why stoning to death, cutting off hand and foot ,polygamy, childmarriages ... cannot be stopped as ’holy bound up with Koran’.
Men must justify their lust in order to live with themselves. Men must use religion or coercion to fulfill their lust. Mohammed used ”divine revelations” to justify it. The Mormon Joseph Smith used ”divine revelation” to justify it. Maybe some Christians will use ”divine revelation” to justify it. Though it is clear in Christian Bible teachings that a woman must ”pass the flower of her age” to marry. The U.S. has had laws in place for hundreds of years allowing 12 year olds and up to marry legally. So take your pick - some girls may need to marry one older man at 12, which would be better than sleeping around with many older men. It sounds disgusting, but wake up people - they are doing it. Any other means of justifying a man’s lust is just as perverted as NAMBLA and the new twist on marriage of men and men.
Men can and MUST cotrol themselves. If they could not there would be no end of rapes every day of every woman!You give permission for rape of girls teboot to lecherous old men and pedophiles! USA a girl is allowed to marry age 12? I have never seen a girl marrying in USA at 12 as there would be an uproar - don’t believe it as Crazy! Not one girl is physically nor mentally capable of a) knowing what marriage means - for life b)bear children safely and raise children as they themselves are still - immature - children. You also say that there is no alternative but ’to sleep around with older men’. Crazy!