Welcome to ...

The place where the world comes together in honesty and mirth.
Windmills Tilted, Scared Cows Butchered, Lies Skewered on the Lance of Reality ... or something to that effect.


Friday, October 31, 2008

Child Wedding To End A Feud?!

Police raided a wedding between a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl in Pakistan's largest city, arresting the Muslim cleric officiating at the ceremony and the children's parents earlier today(Friday, October 31).

The cleric had not yet begun the ceremony in Karachi, which was attended by 100 guests, said deputy superintendent of police Malik Mazhar.

Pakistan law forbids marriage below the age of 18, but some Muslim scholars say it is permissible if the bride and groom have reached puberty.

TV footage showed both children in traditional wedding clothes in the laps of policemen after the raid, the girl with tears running down her cheeks.

The parents said the wedding had been arranged to end an eight-year feud between the two families, according to a report on Express News TV.

Mazhar said he had heard about similar cases in rural areas but "it is shocking to have this right in the center of the city.
"The parents would be brought before a court on Saturday, he said.

A Pakistan Human Rights Commission official, Hina Gillani, said the maximum possible punishment for the parents was one month in jail and a fine of just over $10.

*****

OK then ... since when have a 7 year old boy and a 5 year old girl reached puberty!?
Granted there are rare exceptions, but RARE is the operative word.

This is just a case of stupidity - putting window dressing on a dirty window instead of cleaning the window - and it unfortunately is more common than people think in every part of the planet in every culture.
It is a hold over from the days when the human life expectancy was about 12 to 15 years and humans did 'mature' faster as a matter of survival of the species - we as a species have moved beyond that life expectancy range ... just a bit ... today.
But as they say ... 'Old notions die hard ...'

No comments: