www.foxnews.com/world/2012/03/15 ... s-outrage/

www.foxnews.com/world/2012/03/15 ... s-outrage/

Sounds a bit Biblical, that.

But to be fair, suggesting the entire country is responsible is a little like blaming Austria in general for Fritzl or even England in general for Fred West - and indeed, it seems likely that there will have been people who knew or suspected and, for whatever reason, did nothing, in both those cases.

It seems possible here that the family was involved in the decision to force her to marry. Indeed, if the attitude of her mother, as reported there, is correct, I'd say 'hang you head etc' over that.

But then even that response is part and parcel of the general culture.

I wonder how much the relevant laws are based on religion? I suspect the attitudes toward women that treat a raped woman as effectively unclean are influenced - in part at least - by such attitudes.

But I think it does partly illustrate how far we've come in a relatively short time: when you hear or read of some of what has gone on in this country on matters to do with sex and relationships, in the not-too-distant past, it's not always exactly delightful.

Serious question, though: why do we - if indeed we do - expect that all countries and cultures will be at the same level of social development, and react negatively when some are clearly not?

And do we a) have a right to raise it when they don't meet 'our standards'; b) is it potentially counterproductive to do so; c) can it ever succeed - even if backed by force (see Afghanistan)?

This story doesn’t surprise me whatsoever. I’ve had the misfortune of meeting a bloke who went to Morocco frequently to meet his young wife. Looking back it makes me wonder if he got married to her in similar circumstances as this. The law needs to be changed!

sounds like the work of the usual religious nutjobs. Ive travelled extensively in Morocco, from the cities to the atlas mountains (climbing Toubkal was the principal reason for my visit) to the sahara in the south and the people were across the board the nicest I have met anywhere. Genuine open and friendly. As Mintball says its rather daft to tar an entire country with this awful brush