Thursday, September 16, 2010

Australia: Court Stops Arranged Marriage

A 14-year old Melbourne girl has been been barred from travelling overseas in a bid to avoid an arranged marriage to a man she's never met, News Ltd reports.

The case came to light when the then 13-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, was removed from school ahead of her wedding.

She told child protection officers she had not met the 17-year old boy, and that she had only ever seen a photograph of him.

Child protection officers became convinced after interviewing the girl that she did not understand the sexual or emotional implications of being married.

The teenager told the officers she was not forced into the engagement, and that if she changed her mind after meeting her fiance, she would not have to go through with the marriage.

She said she had not discussed her concern with either of her parents.

1 comment:

Keith said...

Dodgy, good move by the courts.