70 Year Old Man Divorces 15 Year Old: Paid $20,000 For Runaway Bride, He May Actually Be 86
A 70-year-old man has been granted a divorce from a 15-year-old Saudi Arabian teenager. The elderly man was vocal about his displeasure with the bride's family, who he claimed tricked him into forking over a $20,000 dowry only to take her back.
The Human Rights Commission told CNN on Wednesday that the two were fighting and she ran back to her family.
"A divorce has taken place, and the dispute has now been resolved amicably," the commission's president stated.
There is currently no Saudia Arabian law in place that puts a minimum age on tying the knot. However, there has been a recent push for it within the last few years, but extremely conservative religious scholars have continuously balked at it.
While the man told the network that he is 70-years-old, the commission believes that he is actually 86. The man also stated to CNN that he was under the impression that his wife was 25-years-old.
Upon hearing of the marriage, the commission sent an investigator to the girl's residence in the Al-Hurath village, which is located in southwestern Saudi Arabia by the border near Yemen.
Dr. Hadi Al-Yami, who is in charge of the commission's branch covering that area, stated that his team sent an investigator to the courthouse where the man had spoken about the ordeal to a local official. He also said that the commission then reached out to the young runaway bride's family to offer legal aid.
Dr. Suhaila Zein al-Abedin, who represents the Saudi National Associated for Human Rights was vocal about both the age gap and the circumstances regarding the marriage.
"When you consider the very large difference in age, it looks more like this is not a marriage, but like the girl was sold. The girl's parents need to be held responsible for this."
