Our Friends The Saudis Protect Perverts

Obama bowing to the king may be a signal to the Saudis he approves. He should think twice before doing that again, although the harm has already been done.

(CNN) -- The head of the U.N. Children's Fund has expressed concern over a Saudi judge's refusal for a second time to annul a marriage between an 8-year-old girl and a 47-year-old man.

"Irrespective of circumstances or the legal framework, the marriage of a child is a violation of that child's rights," said Ann Veneman, executive director of UNICEF.

"The right to free and full consent to marriage is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Consent cannot be free and full when either party to a marriage is too young to make an informed decision."

The most recent ruling, in which the judge upheld his original verdict, was handed down Saturday in the Saudi city of Onaiza, where late last year the same judge rejected a petition from the girl's mother, seeking a divorce for her daughter

The report further goes on to say the child, upon reaching puberty, can file again for a divorce. By that time the pervert will have consummated their marriage, if he hasn't already.

Crossposted at Jawa Report