YOUNG Iraqi girls are being sold for temporary "pleasure marriages" that can last a little as an hour, it has been reported. Shia clerics were secretly filmed making this disturbing offer to men, who are usually banned from having sex outside marriage, to pay a dowry for an interim wife. One cleric claimed it would be "no problem at all" to marry girls as young as nine under Islamic law, a BBC documentary has revealed.
The practice is currently banned in Iraq, but eight out of 10 clerics who were approached were willing to carry it out. The religious rite dates back hundreds of years and was partly intended to allow men to have a legitimate relationship while away from their wives.
One cleric told the undercover BBC journalist in Karbala that girls as young as nine could be subject to the temporary marriage.
When he was asked if it was acceptable to conduct temporary marriage with a child he said: "According to Sharia, there's no problem.
When the reporter voiced concerns over exploiting the girl, the cleric replied: "No way. Another cleric who was secretly filmed was asked if a temporary marriage with a year-old girl would be permissible under Islamic law. The cleric replied by disturbingly suggesting other sex acts when he said: "Just be careful she doesn't lose her virginity. When he was asked about the girl getting hurt, the cleric said: "That's between you and her.
