Officer who married off Saudi girl, 15, faces legal action

Manama: A court in Saudi Arabia has referred an officer who last week performed a marriage ceremony between an 84-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl to the legal disciplinary committee.

The marriage was annulled by the court in Abu Arish, in the southern region of Jazan, which said it was illegal.

Saudi Al Shimmari, the judge, now wants disciplinary action against the marriage officer, for breaking the rules, and to ensure that no marriage in which the age difference between the bride and the groom is large is performed by anyone.

The case that shook the nation came to light after the groom said he wanted to divorce his bride after she refused to consummate the marriage. He also insisted on getting back the SR90,000 (Dh88,139) he had offered her father as the dowry.

According to the report, the bride’s father suffers from psychological disorders.

Legal advisers said the judge was right in voiding the marriage and stressed that the father should be examined to assess his mental health.

Online readers expressed dismay over the case and called for strong action against the groom, the father and the marriage officer.

They singled out the octogenarian for his abuse and berated him for using his money to take advantage of the situation and possible need by the father for funds.

Several users lauded the young girl’s courage in rejecting the groom, whom they called her “grandfather.”

Underage marriages, particularly in non-urban areas, are a major issue in Saudi society, despite the fact that brides have to be at least 16 years old to be officially married and exceptions have to be formally authorised by courts.

Several traditional families in remote areas do not seem to feel obliged to abide by the ruling and despite campaigns by lawyers and human rights activists to curb the phenomenon, they refuse to change their mindset regarding the early marriage of their girls on social, religious and cultural grounds.