Child Marriage in the Muslim World: Difference between revisions

In many Islamic countries, child marriages are common practice. Girls far below the age of puberty are often forcibly married to older persons  (sometimes in their 50s and later) for various personal gains by the girls' guardian or with the intention to preserve family [[Honor Violence|honor]] by helping her avoid pre-marital [[sex]]. Pedophilic Islamic marriages are most prevalent in [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]], followed by other countries in the [[Middle East]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref>[http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 America Magazine: Child Marriage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Andrew Bushell; March 11, 2002]</ref><ref>[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 Americans For UNFPA: Virtual Slavery: The Practice of “Compensation Marriages” by Net Community of AfUNFPA; last retrieved Monday, 08 December 2008]</ref> This practice may also be prevalent to a lesser extent amongst other [[Ummah|Muslim communities]], and is on the rise among the growing Muslim populations in many non-Muslim countries, such as the [[United Kingdom]]<ref name="Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years"></ref> and the [[United States]].<ref>Christine Vendel - [http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1557578.html?pageNum=2&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container Man charged with statutory rape in ‘marriage’ to 14-year-old girl] - The Kansas City Star, November 8, 2009</ref>