Bride, 12, Fights To Divorce Husband, 80

11:03am UK, Tuesday February 09, 2010

Andy Jack

Sky News Online

A girl of 12 is fighting to divorce her 80-year-old husband in a landmark test case in Saudi Arabia.

Child marriages are common in poorer tribal areas of Saudi Arabia

The child was married to her father's cousin last year, against her wishes and those of her mother.

The girl, from Buraidah, a conservative town near the capital, Riyadh, was married for bridal money of 85,000 riyals ($14,500).

Activists hope the divorce proceedings could pave the way for introducing a minimum age for marriage in the kingdom where child marriages are common in poorer tribal areas.

We need to affect public opinion and I believe that Saudi Arabia will issue a law preventing child marriages soon.

Saudi rights activist Wajiha al Huweider

The child's mother had earlier filed for divorce on her daughter's behalf but withdrew, without giving a reason, after a second court hearing in early February, according to lawyer Sultan bin Zahim.

Saudi's Human Rights Commission is now filing for divorce on behalf of the child.

Zahim said: "(HRC) became involved in this case as a public rights issue that concerns the Saudi community... this case is still valid even after the mother withdrew."

This is the first time the commission has intervened in a case of child marriage, an issue that was previously seen as a "family affair" and outside the commission's remit.

Saudi rights activist Wajiha al Huweider said: "This case is an investment in order to push for a law.

"We need to affect public opinion and I believe that Saudi Arabia will issue a law preventing child marriages soon."

Zuhair al Harthi, a member of the advisory Shura Council, said a draft law on banning child marriages was being studied by a government committee.