Child brides' enduring plight

Arwa Elrabee, a gynecologist, speaks on the phone as Rihab al-Askari, 17, waits with her son, Haitham, 1. Askari's parents forced her into marriage at age 13. When that marriage failed, she was wed again, at 15. (Sudarsan Raghavan/the Washington Post)

Problem illustrates hold of tribal doctrines

By Sudarsan Raghavan
WashPost
Saturday, December 5, 2009

SANAA, YEMEN -- Ayesha rested her head on the doctor's desk. She had removed her black veil, revealing a round face contorted in pain. She had married a 53-year-old man when she was 13. Now 15, she wanted her childhood back. She clutched her sides and groaned.

It was 3:30 p.m. in Arwa Elrabee's office. The gynecologist looked at Ayesha and shook her head. She knew Ayesha's pain was as much psychological as it was physical.

"I don't want to be married," Ayesha explained, her mother standing next to her.

"Why did you marry her off so early?" the doctor demanded. "Why didn't you allow her to continue her education?"

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