Iran Passes Law Allowing Marriage As Young As 13

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/iran-lawmakers-men-wed-adopted-daughters

//Parliamentarians in Iran have passed a bill to protect the rights of children which includes a clause that allows a man to marry his adopted daughter and while she is as young as 13 years.//

Is this evidence of harm by religion?

[atalanta]

In mediaeval times in Europe, marriage and consummation were not necessarily the same thing. A pair of children might be "married" - or just betrothed, which was almost as good - to keep the inheritances safe. Many an heiress was orphaned, especially by Plague, and left to be (literally) sold to the highest bidder by the King. If she was betrothed, or married, her in-laws would protect her if her own family was dead.
If such a "marriage" turned out to be undesirable - usually for financial or political reasons, it could be annulled.

[boxtops]

That is horrific, naomi, that Khomeini pronounced (in effect) that vaginal intercourse in the under-9s is a bad thing, but sodomy is acceptable. I wonder if that's what killed that poor kid a few weeks back (they never gave out the details, only described them as sexual injuries).

[naomi24]

Yes, horrific indeed, Boxy - but sadly every time people who think they understand Islam defend the 'culture', even to the wearing of the veil, they are, albeit naively, supporting the views of men like him - and I might add, of all Islamic fundamentalists. In such a society - and Iran isn't alone - women are deemed property and little girls will continue to be abused. Apologists, who are fortunate enough to have a free voice, think they're being fair and liberal - but they're not. They merely serve to encourage a backward philosophy to continue unchallenged, and they do the subjugated women of Islam no favours whatsoever.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Where did you get the Khomeini quote, Naomi?

[naomi24]

Under the heading ‘Permitted by Muslim Scholars & Leaders’.

http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Contemporary_Pedophilic_Islamic_Marriages

[society]

OMG this is so sick. In this day and age you'd think people are more educated and knowledgeable to know better. Unbelievable...

[askyourgran]

Disgusting backward people.

[Hypognosis]

Can anyone recommend a brand of soap which is kind to the eyes?

[sandyRoe]

"Wikislam, the on-line resource that anyone can edit..." Hardly the Bible truth, then?

[naomi24]

No, not a bible of truth. Google elsewhere if you prefer.

[sandyRoe]

Who needs to Google for anti-Islamic propaganda when there's so much available here on AB for those who want it.

[naomi24]

If you're in doubt, you do.

[craft1948]

Until the late 1920's a girl could get married in this country at the age of 12.

[Hypognosis]

You learn something new here every day.

With apologies for fact-checking you, Crafty, here's the proof

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1929/apr/30/age-of-marriage-bill-hl#s5lv0074p0_19290430_hol_108

There's an interesting reference to Britain's standing with the (then) League of Nations with regard to the fact that we needed to get our own house in order (by raising the age of consent to 16) before we went about lecturing the people of India, telling them not to indulge in child marriages.

[sandyRoe]

Birdie1971, I wasn't questioning the validity of the story. But I do wonder how much weight can be given to a site like Wikislam. I remember here in AB a while back articles from an American site run and financed by Zionists were quoted to try and prove a negative point about Islam.

[naomi24]

The relevant point in the OP is not that a law has been passed allowing a girl to be married at 13, but that a man is permitted to marry an adopted child at that age – and with the permission of a judge, younger – so the little girl is not protected by adoption - she is vulnerable to abuse.

[ummmm]

What was the life expectancy in the 1920's?

It's one thing marrying off a child of 12 when she's expected to live to 30 compared with marrying off a child of 12 when she's expected to live to 80.

[naomi24]

Concentrating on the legal marriageable age is missing the point entirely. This law states that a man may marry an ADOPTED child - and may, with the consent of a judge, marry her before she has attained the age of 13. Therefore, although that child has been legally placed in the protection of an adult male, the law does not protect her, or prevent him, from abusing the responsibility with which he has been entrusted.