Saudi Princess Speaks Out Against Child Marriage

A Saudi Arabian Princess is outraged over her country’s practice of child marriage, where a young girl is married off to a much older man. Princess Adela bint Abdullah, the influential daughter of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, had this to say about the practice.

“I, personally, and many specialists in social and education fields, share the opinion” that it is in violation of children’s rights, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported.

“A child has the right to live her childhood and not be forced to get married. Even an adult would not accept that.”

The Princess said this after a 12 year-old girl suddenly dropped her divorce petition from her 80 year-old husband. She had accused her husband of rape, but now says she wants to obey the wishes of her father.

Saudi Arabia has no laws against child marriage. However human rights groups are trying to set a minimum marriage law to 16 or older.