The Key Causes of Forced Child Marriage in the Middle East In the Middle East and North Africa, also known by the acronym MENA, discriminatory cultural practices and norms are perhaps the most prominent factors of forced child marriage. Ancient, deeply-embedded traditions passed down from generation to generation has carried old patriarchal practices through the ages, preserving arranged child marriage traditions. Systemically forced child marriage, particularly in the Middle East, is a tradition that feels like a relic of the Middle Ages, seemingly impossible to grasp for those raised outside the region. The key causes of forced child marriage are revealed to be a combination of cultural factors and misinterpreted religious law. Throughout
…show more content…
Though studies show that child marriage is not enforced by any one religion in particular, “Religious justifications for the marriage of girls can be found among several major faiths, Islam and Hinduism, in particular” (Warner). Religion, particularly Islam in the Middle East, is a heavily influential factor in forced child marriage, as innocence and purity are of paramount importance in the Muslim culture. Because of this desire for innocence, many believe that marrying girls off at a young age will keep them pure, as they won’t have the opportunity to be unfaithful to their culture and religion (Warner). For Zana in the novel Sold, she experiences this practice through a different manifestation; upon first being introduced, Zana’s husband Abdullah treats her “[differently] from the other women… As far as he was concerned, [she] was unclean and immodest” (Muhsen, 47), due to her style of Western dress. Though he eventually accepts her, Zana still faces prejudice from the rest of the town, because despite the fact that she was married off at a young age, she was still viewed as tainted in comparison to the rest of the young married women. The acceptance and enforcement “of child marriage under certain interpretations of Shariah Law has allowed the practice to continue in spite of numerous international human rights instruments as well as domestic legislation prohibiting child marriage” (Rohrs). The deeply embedded religious traditions stemming from varying Quranic interpretations, can turn a religion founded on notions of the love between man and God into a construct that seeks to control women by marrying them off at a young age to keep them pure, whether it be voluntary or
Though studies show that child marriage is not enforced by any one religion in particular, “Religious justifications for the marriage of girls can be found among several major faiths, Islam and Hinduism, in particular” (Warner). Religion, particularly Islam in the Middle East, is a heavily influential factor in forced child marriage, as innocence and purity are of paramount importance in the Muslim culture. Because of this desire for innocence, many believe that marrying girls off at a young age will keep them pure, as they won’t have the opportunity to be unfaithful to their culture and religion (Warner). For Zana in the novel Sold, she experiences this practice through a different manifestation; upon first being introduced, Zana’s husband Abdullah treats her “[differently] from the other women… As far as he was concerned, [she] was unclean and immodest” (Muhsen, 47), due to her style of Western dress. Though he eventually accepts her, Zana still faces prejudice from the rest of the town, because despite the fact that she was married off at a young age, she was still viewed as tainted in comparison to the rest of the young married women. The acceptance and enforcement “of child marriage under certain interpretations of Shariah Law has allowed the practice to continue in spite of numerous international human rights instruments as well as domestic legislation prohibiting child marriage” (Rohrs). The deeply embedded religious traditions stemming from varying Quranic interpretations, can turn a religion founded on notions of the love between man and God into a construct that seeks to control women by marrying them off at a young age to keep them pure, whether it be voluntary or