Saudi Arabia

Free Nazia Quazi
By Katha Pollitt

In most countries, a woman in her mid-20s is legally an adult. And in most countries, foreigners are free to leave when they like. In its flagrant rejection of these two principles, Saudi Arabia is unique, and that is a big problem for 24-year-old Nazia Quazi.

You've GOT to be kidding me. How is this guy allowed to be a grand mufti?

"It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger," Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the kingdom's grand mufti, said in remarks quoted Wednesday in the regional Al-Hayat newspaper. "A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her."

"Unfair to her"? A 47-year-old man marries an 8-year-old and a judge refuses to annul the marriage, then this guy comes out and has the balls to say something as foul as this? If this is what Wahhabism stands for, then it's utter shit. Mr. Al-Sheikh, you have neither the clarity of conscience nor the common decency of a good Muslim. Allah will judge you, but if he wants a character witness at your trial, I'm first in line. Right behind every woman who wants to cut in front of me.

Is Islam Changing?
Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao