Following the marriage of an 8 year old girl to a 58 year old man and a court ruling that upheld the marriage, the Saudi Justice Minister Mohamed al-Issa has spoken out.   An interpretation of Sunni Islam gives fathers the right to wed their children to whomever they choose.  The Minister said his ministry seeks “to put an end to arbitrariness by parents and guardians in marrying off minor girls.”

The patriarchal practice is endorsed by several Saudi clerics, including the kingdom’s chief cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdelaziz Al al-Sheikh.

Source: The Telegraph