Dutch allowing "child brides" from Syria reunite with their husbands

[Luiz 4,253]

A 14-year-old girl has gone missing from a Dutch asylum centre. Police say Fatema Alkasem was nine months pregnant and may be in need of medical care.

She is also thought to be a "child bride", and her case has highlighted the problem that the Netherlands faces in providing asylum for girls who married in Syria but are below the Dutch age of consent.

The government in The Hague is rushing to close a loophole in the asylum law which has so far allowed child brides to be reunited with their husbands in the Netherlands.

The practice has inflamed debate about how the Netherlands is responding to the refugee crisis, with some arguing it is condoning paedophilia.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34573825

[Luiz 4,253]

what would y'all do if you were the german or dutch government and had to make the decision whether to respect the culture and allow the child brides to reunite with their husbands or try to stop them?

[Melech 9,900]

what would y'all do if you were the german or dutch government and had to make the decision whether to respect the culture and allow the child brides to reunite with their husbands or try to stop them?

I don't think that this part of culture to be really honest. It's illegal and it should stay that way.

[Didymus 34,380]

First off: omg at the Aleister Crowley avatar

Second: I would respect the culture, I mean there's really no good way to force every single married girl to divorce if they want to come and/or stay in/to the Netherlands But yeah, this is a very difficult problem. It reminds me of the "devil children" in the UK where African families basically tortured their children in the genuine fear that they were possessed. It's so difficult..

[Luiz 4,253]

idk why the OP got edited  

i thought these parts were important and its not like i copy and pasted the entire article 

 

As many as 20 girls between the ages of 13 and 15 have been given legal permission to join their older partners at Dutch asylum centres, according to regional news channel RTV-Noord. The figures were reportedly obtained from a leaked immigration service document.

"A 12-year-old girl with a 40-year-old-man - that is not a marriage, that is abuse", says politician Attje Kuiken, whose Labour party is a partner in the ruling coalition.

"We're talking about really young children, girls 12, 13 years old. I want to protect these children. The government should take them into foster care and protect them, because before the new law comes into force, they can still be subject to abuse."

 

The age of s-xual consent in the Netherlands is 16 but migration minister Klaas Dijkhoff has told the BBC that the country currently recognises marriages involving young teenagers, as long as they are officially registered in their country of origin.

"At the moment we do have a problem with the bracket between 15 and 18. We want to be more strict, (and in future we will) not recognise the relationship..."

The amendment means that family reunification applications will only recognise marriages if both partners are over the age of 18.

"So if you're a man with an underage wife," Mr Dijkhoff warns, "you won't make it in time to bring over your underage wife."

I met two Syrian friends from Aleppo, Majd and Samo. They are worried that the child brides issue may be further tainting the Dutch view of Syrian people and their culture.

"The refugees here have a culture shock right now. We bring with us our beliefs, our traditions and they're not easy to break," says Majd. 

"Our problem is that Dutch people can't see the difference between Syrians but it's our responsibility to deal with these new laws."

Samo remembers meeting a young girl who was married at a refugee camp in Den Helder.

"I'm a refugee but I was working there in food distribution. I was very moved. I thought the guy was her little brother. When she said, 'this is my son', I was shocked. She was 14 years old. She accepted her fate, but it's wrong."

[Didymus 34,380]

"She accepted her fate, but it's wrong."

Ugh. Ridiculous. I mean, even if you're gonna change the legal status of these people, you simply can't resort to these emotional arguments because they have no foundation other than cultural habit and they simply don't take the people they're supposed to embrace seriously.

[mmm 879]

In the united states, Massachusetts allows girls to be marries at the age of 12, texas and New Hampshire allows it at the age of 14 yet I dont see anyone talking about how the united states culture allows child rape and weather we should stop them and safe the children! 

its offensive to say that child rape is part of our culture when its not and Syria's personal status law sets the minimum age of marriage at 17.

[lego 44,165]

This is really complicated issue as age of consent is different in each country. 

Mexico 12

Argentina, Japan 13

Brazil, 14 but 12-13 can have partner up to 5 years older

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Germany,Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein,Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia - 14

If they are allowed to have s-x in this age^^ in these countries why are they called 'child brides' if they are married at 14 and pregnant?

That's confusing. And I doubt that husbands of those girls are all over 40, in most cases they're all under 20.

 

[Truth 90]

I wonder how European pedophiles/rapist and other criminals are going to take such discrimination. They are staying in prisons while the "peaceful" newcomers can do the same legally, because they claim its their "culture" haha

[Didymus 34,380]

I wonder how European pedophiles/rapist and other criminals are going to take such discrimination. They are staying in prisons while the "peaceful" newcomers can do the same legally, because they claim its their "culture" haha

There's a difference, though.. the next generation of Syrians living in the Netherlands for instance would obviously not be allowed to marry or engage in s-xual contact under the age of consent.

If they like it so much I guess they can move to Syria

[Melech 9,900]

This is really complicated issue as age of consent is different in each country. 

Mexico 12

Argentina, Japan 13

Brazil, 14 but 12-13 can have partner up to 5 years older

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Germany,Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein,Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia - 14

If they are allowed to have s-x in this age^^ in these countries why are they called 'child brides' if they are married at 14 and pregnant?

That's confusing. And I doubt that husbands of those girls are all over 40, in most cases they're all under 20.

 

I can't speak for other countries, only for Germany. The age of consent is only 14 when the person sleeps with another person under 18. Anyone who sleeps with someone under 18 can be persecuted and jailed. 

All of that is pretty illegally since mostly it's arranged marriage. 

[lego 44,165]

I can't speak for other countries, only for Germany. The age of consent is only 14 when the person sleeps with another person under 18. Anyone who sleeps with someone under 18 can be persecuted and jailed. 

All of that is pretty illegally since mostly it's arranged marriage. 

So if the Syrian girl is 14 and her husband is 17, then it's legal?

I'd say respect their culture, so those girls (and their possible children) can get far away from war zones. They can always later divorce, especially in Western countries. 

[Melech 9,900]

So if the Syrian firl is 14 and her husband is 17, then it's legal?

I'd say respect their culture, so those girls (and their possible children) can get far away from war zones. They can always later divorce, especially in Western countries. 

I'm not sure about marriage. But s-x would be legal, I think. Though I might be wrong. I'm not a lawyer

 

[Luiz 4,253]

i'd go case by case basis.

ask the girl and guy if she/he wishes to stay married and if she/she doesnt then we'd have to talk with the parents about what to do. 

the honor killing thing is scary but i guess risk it?  how many human beings are seriously willing to murder their children? seems like something that should just be against human nature but i know it does happen sometimes.

[Luc 4,776]

Shouldn't be supported in my opinion. I hope they can quickly bring in legislation to make this impossible.