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In Pakistan, More Arrests In Marriage Case Involving 6-Year-Old Girl

November 09, 2012

by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal

SAIDU SHARIF, Pakistan -- Police in Pakistan’s Swat Valley have arrested three members of a "jirga" tribal assembly who allegedly ordered that a 6-year-old girl be married to resolve a dispute among rival families.

RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal reports that a court in the town of Saidu Sharif has ruled the jirga’s decision was illegal.

Five people have now been arrested in connection with the case -- the three jirga members, plus the man who was planning to marry the girl, and his father.

The parents of 6-year-old Bibi Roza appealed to the court after the decision by the jirga in the village of Ashari.

"Swara," the practice of exchanging women and girls to settle feuds, is common in Swat and other Pakistani tribal regions, but exchanges involving girls as young as 6 are considered extremely rare.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-swat-6-year-old-girl-marriage-arrests/24765720.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.