Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
U.S. calls Saudi child marriage a rights violation
| International
|
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
U.S. calls Saudi child marriage a rights violation
Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:40pm EDT
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday called the case of an 8-year-old Saudi girl married to a man 50 years older a "clear and unacceptable violation of human rights," in a rare criticism of its oil-producing ally.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the United States has frequently raised the issue of child marriages with Saudi officials, although he could not say whether this specific case had been raised.
A court in the town of Unaiza in Saudi Arabia upheld for the second time last week the marriage of the Saudi girl to a man who is about 50 years her senior on condition he does not have sex with her until she reaches puberty.
"Child marriage is a clear and unacceptable violation of human rights, in our view," Wood told reporters in Washington. "U.S. officials at all levels frequently raise with the Saudi government our human rights concerns, especially those dealing with ... children and child marriages."
On Tuesday, the Saudi justice minister was quoted as saying Riyadh plans to regulate the marriages of young girls after the court refused to nullify the 8-year-old's marriage.
Saudi Arabia is a patriarchal society that applies an austere form of Sunni Islam that bans unrelated men and women from mixing and gives fathers the right to wed their sons and daughters to whoever they deem fit.
The justice ministry aims "to put an end to arbitrariness by parents and guardians in marrying off minor girls," Justice Minister Mohamed al-Issa told al-Watan newspaper, partially owned by members of the royal family.
The minister's comments suggested the practice of marrying off young girls would not be abolished. The regulations will seek to "preserve the rights, fending off blights to end the negative aspects of underage girls' marriage," he said.
Many young girls in Arab countries that observe tribal traditions are married to older husbands but not before puberty. Such marriages are also driven by poverty in countries like Yemen, one of the poorest countries outside Africa.
On Monday, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF also expressed concern over the issue. The agency's chief, Ann Veneman, said consent to marriage could not be free and full when either party was too young to make an informed decision.
"Irrespective of circumstances or the legal framework, the marriage of a child is a violation of that child's rights," Veneman, a former U.S. agriculture secretary, said in a statement.
(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; editing by Will Dunham)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
Yahoo!
Facebook
LinkedIn
Also On Reuters
Video
Video: Surgeons find fir tree growing inside a man's lung
Technology advances put police behavior in focus
Commentary: Beware of Goldman's "dutiful" repayment
More International News
Iran says will offer nuclear package to West soon
French navy detain Somali pirates
| Video
U.N. monitors quit plutonium site on North Korean orders
| Video
Car blast kills 10 people, wounds 23 in north Iraq
Colombia captures top drug lord "Don Mario"
More International News...
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
13-year-old boy accused of robbing Illinois bank
Fiat CEO says other options to Chrysler deal | Video
Recession fueling right-wing extremism, U.S. says
U.S. planning to reveal data on health of top banks: report | Video
More Americans wary of tax man this year
UBS cuts 8,700 jobs | Video
Pirates attack U.S.-flagged ship but fail to board | Video
Guantanamo captive phones TV office, claims abuse
Goldman wants to go back, but can it?
NBC recruits Blagojevich as reality star
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Bo makes White House debut
Pirates strike again
Demjanjuk deportation halted
Back to square one?
Going beyond Monopoly
Kidnapped couple freed in Yemen
Obama predicts more job losses
UK officer in video violence row
Thai protests ends peacefully
Peru strike hits Machu Picchu
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
World Affairs:
Arabia's knowledge gap
Bernd Debusmann
Education is a tempting target for budget cutters in times of financial distress, but in the Arab world an education drive without parallel is taking place. Commentary
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Thursday, 16 April 2009 French detain 11 Somali pirates, ship freed
| International
|
U.N. monitors quit plutonium site on North Korean orders
| International
|
Colombia captures top drug lord Don Mario
| International
|
Thailand aims to revive economy after protests end
| International
|
Sri Lanka truce over, doors open to final fight
| International
|
U.S. calls Saudi child marriage a rights violation
| International
|
PluggedIn: Tech magazine shift from gadget glitz to survive
| Technology
|
Microsoft says EU antitrust deadline extended
| Technology
|
Technology advances put police behavior in focus
| Technology
|
Carry On producer Peter Rogers dies
| Entertainment
|
Octuplets' mom says plans documentary series
| Entertainment
|
Italy state TV fires cartoonist for quake drawing
| Entertainment
|
U.N. inspectors leave North Korea: report
| International
|
Ahmadinejad pledges new offer on Iran nuclear crisis
Execution top killer of Iraqi civilians: study
| International
|
Correction: Iraq-WMD Lawsuit
India starts marathon vote, unstable coalition possible
| International
|
Car blast kills 10 in north Iraq
Russia says NATO exercises in Georgia are provocation
| International
|
French warship detains pirates, US urges action
Ten Iraqi police killed in Kirkuk car bomb
US economy contracts further, remains weak: Fed
Thai markets relieved by peaceful end to protests
| International
|
Israel balks at UN war crimes probe of Gaza war
Chinese navy spells out long-range ambitions
| International
|
US economy weak: Fed
Police: Car bomb kills 11 in northern Iraq
Three killed in asylum boat blast off Australia
| International
|
Israel won't cooperate with UN probe of Gaza war
Worldwide PC sales fall 7.1 percent in Q1: IDC
| Technology
|
Google widens lead in U.S. searches: comScore
| Technology
|
Panasonic, NEC unveil 9 Linux phones
| Technology
|
US, Europe mull next steps on Iran
US-TECH Summary
Verizon plans app mart for Hub Web phone
| Technology
|
US: US experts asked by NKorea to leave country
Worldwide PC sales fall 7.1 percent in Q1: IDC
US commander in Gulf submarine crash loses command
Verizon plans app mart for Hub Web phone
Steep first quarter drop in worldwide PC sales
2008 confirmed growing Web role in US politics
Internet used by more than half in U.S. election
| Technology
|
Talks offer respite in French Channel blockade
Google widens lead in U.S. searches: comScore
FMs say Tamil Tigers using 'human shields'
Internet used by more than half in U.S. election
French warship captures 11 pirates
AT&T wants to extend iPhone deal until 2011: WSJ
Microsoft says EU antitrust deadline extended
Technology advances put police behavior in focus
American Idol judges spare finalist Matt Giraud
| Entertainment
|
Strong quake shakes Indonesia
Efron is footloose but song-free in 17 Again
| Entertainment
|
Australia intercepts boat of suspected refugees
Journalist plays cop in hard-to-believe thriller
| Entertainment
|
Thaksin granted Nicaragua passport
Harry Potter release moved up two days
| Entertainment
|
UN and US nuclear experts set to quit NKorea
Will Ferrell takes to the Wild in guest stint
| Entertainment
|
UN chief shares US concern about Aung San Suu Kyi
Megan Fox ready to make Crossing
| Entertainment
|
Suicide car bomber kills 16 in NW Pakistan: police
Idol champ Fantasia to star in reality series
| Entertainment
|
NKorea marks late leader's birthday amid tensions
Rascal Flatts, Miley Cyrus lead U.S. pop chart
| Entertainment
|
Pakistan grants bail to radical Red Mosque cleric
China dissidents detained, harassed on key anniversary
AC/DC denies it will play Romanian festival
| Entertainment
|
Philippine Muslim cleric in talks to free Red Cross workers
Former Google.org chief joining new Skoll venture
Facebook 'top social network in Europe'
EBay to say goodbye to Skype
Nokia reports 90% drop in net profit
Russia ends 10-year Chechnya operation
Ousted Thai PM urges protesters to reconcile
India kicks off marathon vote
UN nuclear inspectors quit NKorea
China's economy slows, but Premier Wen upbeat
US woman in HK 'milkshake murder' seeks appeal
NKorea releases photos of top body in rare move
China's navy to build new ships, planes
Japan stocks trim gains on weak China growth
Lucky escape as plane hits Australian beach
Belgian shoots wife, then kills self in Philippines
Report: NEC Electronics, Renesas near merger
China's FM to visit Mideast nations, Russia
Fitch cuts Thailand's credit ratings amid turmoil
S.Korea finmin cautions about excessive liquidity
War-scarred Angolan city reborn as university centre
Cut-price Miami concerts prove music to the ears
SKorea's state power firm swings to Q1 loss
Smaller Chinese cities 'key for luxury brands'
WRAPUP 1-S.Korea cuts 2009 export growth target to 51-yr low
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China Eastern Airlines suffers $2.2 billion loss
Megan Fox ready to make "Crossing"
SKorea forecasts 13.5 percent fall in 2009 exports
"Harry Potter" release moved up two days
South Korean won up 0.5 pct but China GDP weighs
South Korean city plays Cupid to boost birthrate
China says economic growth slowest in 10 years
`Kite Runner' among last year's challenged books
"Idol" champ Fantasia to star in reality series
Review: Mental illness shatters family in 'Normal'
Orangutans threatened by illegal pet trade
NetEase wins license to host World of Warcraft
Panasonic, NEC unveil 9 Linux phones
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights