Some thoughts for Anon

Submitted by Straight_Talk_Luigi (United States), Jan 19, 2009 at 18:27

Dear Anon

I am very sad to hear about what has befallen.

What your wife needs to understand is that this is not the 7th century anymore, and trying to marry off a 12 year old daughter is a great way to have a sex offender label slapped on you and reason enough for some states to take away your kids and put them in foster care. I kid you not. Here in the USA, we have had this problem with some of the more extreme LDS churches.People used to marry at younger ages across the globe way back then, but these days we've learned that is not always a good thing. In fact it's a recipe for disaster.

Anon, you have to be in control here, and while I understand that your love for your wife runs deep, your children MUST come first. I would not let your daughter marry some horny old geezer under any circumstances. Protect her, even from your own family if you must.

She is being too extreme, and her parents can see this. Muslims do value the Koran and the Hadith but most of the Muslims I know take it in the context of times. Meaning that if you are sick, you get modern care, not mystical animal-based remedies. Many Muslims also won't deny the events of the Koran, even the more hideous ones, but they'll also say "you know, that really does not apply today."

It seems like much of what you are finding out is happening on your own. I would talk to her side of the family about this, since they are not keen on the idea of a divorce either. I realize that you are husband and she is your wife, but I really do feel that her parents can be of help to you in this case.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".