‘You Marry My Daughter and I’ll Marry Yours!’

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

With the aim of strengthening business ties, two Riyadh business partners in their 70s have married their teenage daughters (17-19) to each other, reported Sayidaty magazine, a sister publication of Arab News.

“A man has the right to marry. When it comes to marriage, there is no stopping point,” said Al-Dossary, a man in his 70s with silver hair, a gray beard and gray eyebrows. “We have followed Islamic principles in the way we conducted our marriages and we are both happy with our wives,” he added.

[...]

Reacting to allegations of misbehavior, Al-Dossary said: “We do not think of our daughters as entities to profit from. If I were of such a mind, then I would have married my daughter to men who asked for her and offered me lots of money; however, I refused them because of their unacceptable manners and behavior.”

Al-Qahtani agreed: “To tell you the truth, when I asked Al-Dossary to give me his daughter in return for mine, I had a couple of things in mind. I told him that we were not just friends and partners but we would also be relatives. We did not think of our daughters as business entities.”

[...]

Commenting on the story, Ali Nasir, a social researcher at the Education Ministry ... added that having read a transcript of the men’s interviews, he could clearly see that they had no respect for women. “They did not even consult their daughters....

[...]

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Wahbi, a researcher in Islamic jurisprudence, said that there was no legal problem with such marriages as long as the women involved agreed. He warned that people must, however, be clear about their intentions. “It is abominable to turn a marriage into a business...

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9&sectio...tegory=Features

[mawilson 2,133]

Marriage was always about business - consolidating wealth and power, merging resources

and forging political alliances. Only in the 19th century did "love" enter the equation.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's insane.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Marriage was always about business - consolidating wealth and power, merging resources and forging political alliances.

Was that true even among the poor?

[Fandango 1,439]

loathesome!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

loathesome!

Even if, as the article implies, the daughters agreed?

[Fandango 1,439]

loathesome!

Even if, as the article implies, the daughters agreed?

yep

also says they weren't consulted

[Hornet 2]

Look at Europe's Royal families in the Ninetenth Century and before.

[mawilson 2,133]

Marriage was always about business - consolidating wealth and power, merging resources and forging political alliances.

Was that true even among the poor?

I believe so, yes.

[Alex+R 0]

I'm sure the daughters consented out of duty. Because, like I keep saying, a 19-yo girl is NOT falling for a 70-yo man. Oh! Gives me the shivers.

[melly 0]

I can't imagine they consented, even to keep the fathers happy. My guess is they had no choice in the end and were forced. It's disgusting and I can only imagine the first old man suggested it cos he's a total perv.

[mawilson 2,133]

Because, like I keep saying, a 19-yo girl is NOT falling for a 70-yo man. Oh! Gives me the shivers.

Even if the 70-year-old looks like this 80-year-old guy:

[Itsmeitsmeitsree! 0]

Marriage was always about business - consolidating wealth and power, merging resources

and forging political alliances. Only in the 19th century did "love" enter the equation.

Ummm...this is the 21st century...and love does enter the equation.

[ELW 5]

This is the way it is in many places in the world. I lived in India and though in the cities it is very modern, still in many villages, women have no choice who and when they will marry. If they refuse the match their parents decide, they are literally thrown out on the streets and disowned. I knew several women there who were in love with other guys, but were forced to marry someone else. They simply cannot do anything about it. It is so sad and tragic that it is still happening even today.

[mybackpages 0]

Marriage was always about business - consolidating wealth and power, merging resources

and forging political alliances. Only in the 19th century did "love" enter the equation.

Ummm...this is the 21st century...and love does enter the equation.

Not always. Many marriages are entered into hoping love will come later. (i seriously doubt these marriages are one of those!)