This is unusual – the BBC did a story on child (girl) marriage in Niger, and for once it actually said that religion backs the practice.
Niger also has one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage.
About 24% of girls will be married by the time they are 15. That rises to nearly 80% by the age of 18. It is a social phenomenon that affects all significant ethnic groups in Niger, including the majority Hausa community.
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Hard-pressed families receive a “bride price” in return for their daughter’s hand in marriage. A girl married off is also one less mouth to feed.
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
