Excerpts:US okays Hamas in elections.Forced young girl marriages 21
September 2005
+++The Daily Star (Lebanon) 21 Sept.'05
"U.S. eases opposition to Hamas participation in elections"
[IMRA: U.S. never expressly opposed.]
By Majdoline Hatoum, Daily Star staff

QUOTE FROM TEXT:
" 'we have to give the Palestinians some room for the evolution of
their political process' "
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EXCERPTS:

UNITED NATIONS: The United States signaled an easing of opposition to
the participation of the militant group Hamas in the Palestinian
parliamentary elections and urged Israel to cooperate in organizing the
polls. The position elaborated by U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
was in sharp contrast to Israel's unyielding hostility to an electoral role
for Hamas and its pledge not to help in the elections if Hamas ran.

At a news conference of the Middle East diplomatic "Quartet" here,
Rice reiterated the U.S. view that there was a "fundamental contradiction"
between Hamas' armed activities and its plan to run in January's legislative
polls.

But she added, "We understand that the Palestinian political system is
in transition, that it is in transition toward a democratic system and that
that has to be a Palestinian process."

"I think we have to give the Palestinians some room for the evolution
of their political process," the chief U.S. diplomat said.

[IMRA: O.K. to terrorist Hamas takeover.]

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has threatened to withhold all
cooperation in election preparations if Hamas, considered by Israel and the
U.S. as a terrorist group, is allowed to run.

But Rice said, "We would hope that the elections can go forward and
that everyone will cooperate to make those elections go forward because
elections are fundamental to the continued evolution and development of the
Palestinian process."

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 21 Sept.'05:"Age Divide Raises Questions About Married
Life" Manal Quota, Arab News -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Saudi Arabia has no legal age for marriage making it legal for a girl
of any age to get married to a man of any age. There is lttle the
authorities can do to protect a young girl from being married off by her
family unless they are directly asked to intervene"
"Forced marriage is against Islamic law"
' 'When men get to a certain age, they want to use that money and power.
For many that means showing off a young, beautiful bride' "
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EXCERPTS:

JEDDAH, 21 September 2005 - It's not uncommon to find old men marrying young
girls. Despite age gaps of 30 or 40 years or more between the two spouses,
some men expect it in their old age.
One extreme case of such a marriage involved a 15-year-old girl being
married off to a man more than 100 in Jizan. For honeymoon they came to
Jeddah. In another case, a man above 60 married an 11-year-old girl.
Saudi Arabia has no legal age for marriage, making it legal for a girl of
any age to get married to man of any age. There is little the authorities
can do to protect a young girl from being married off by her family unless
they are directly asked to intervene.
...only a Shariah court judge can overrule a marriage with a big age gap.
... .In most cases, these young girls are forced to get married. They are
young and unprepared to go against their parents' wishes.
"Forced marriage is against Islamic law," said Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz
Al-Asheikh, "and those responsible for it should be jailed." ... .
Girls may protest such marriages on grounds of kafa'ah (compatibility) ... .
A husband and wife must be compatible in age, education, social upbringing
and wealth. When spouses feel they are not compatible then they have the
right to protest the marriage. ... .
IIt's often a matter of money. The family of a young bride needs money and
is willing to bail themselves out by marrying a girl child to a rich man in
exchange for a big dowry.
"Money is the main factor that pushes older men to marry young girls," said
Salwa Hussein Badawi, vice president of the Women's Supervising Office of
Social Affairs in the Makkah region. "When men get to a certain age, they
want to use that money and power. For many that means showing off a young
beautiful bride."
. . .
The problem ... lies in traditional practices. Parents who have been raised
in that tradition assume their forefathers must have been right.
Social position is another reason that men choose to marry younger women.
Men feel that their social status will change if they have a young wife to
flaunt ...
. . .
But the custom of marrying children off remains despite its questionable
legality and conflicts with the tenets of Islam, prompting some to wonder if
in this modern age it's a tradition that should be relegated to the history
books.

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA