year-old girl has been foiled in his attempt to marry off his daughter to a 60-year-old man. A Tabuk “ma'dhoun” – an official licensed to conduct marriage formalities – told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that he was asked by the prospective husband to certify a contract for a 16-year-old to become his third wife. “I decided to go the home of the girl to hear her consent, but when I asked to meet the girl her father was extremely reluctant,” the marriage official said. “I insisted on the meeting, however, and when he finally relented and brought the girl it transpired that she was only 10.” He said the girl was in tears when she was brought before him. “I asked her father if he did not fear Allah in marrying the girl off to a 60-year-old man, and he replied saying that he owed the man favors and that when he'd asked for his daughter's hand he agreed,” he said. Recently there have been many cases where minor girls have been given in marriage to men much older to become their grandfathers. The practice has started a debate in the Kingdom on the practicality of the minor marriage with concerned bodies debating and calling for fixing a minimum marriage age for girls.
