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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Challenge validity of marriage
Jainab wants Welfare Department to challenge marriage and put 12-year old girl under protection
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Welfare Services Department (JPKA) has been directed to study the possibility of challenging the validity of marriage involving a man and his underage rape victim. (left - Riduan Masmud, involved)
In making the call, State Minister of Community and Consumer Affairs Datuk Jainab Ahmad said her ministry took a serious view of the matter as it involved public interest, especially in protecting children’s future.
In this regard, she ordered JPKA director to study the case in all aspects including the possibility of taking or giving protection to the girl under the Child Act 2001.
“We want the Welfare Services Department to challenge the marriage and put her under protection even though she has married the alleged rapist, that is why we still questioning the validity of the marriage.
“As a mother, I am still puzzled how could the father of the girl allowed his daughter to be married to the man who had raped her,” she told reporters after closing a seminar on family harmony here Tuesday.
Jainab was commenting on a case being heard at the Sessions Court here Monday which received widespread coverage in the local media in Sabah in which a 40-year-man raped an underage girl and married the victim according to Syariah laws.
While describing the case as tragic, she said the matter should not have happened.
“As the minister responsible and concerned, we are very disturbed by what had happened and we are sad the father allowed such things to happen his innocent daughter.
“The girl was only 12 years and six months. I believe the victim is in a trauma. She should be protected instead marrying the man who had raped her,” she said.
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Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.
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