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According to Al-Suhaimi, the Al-Munasaha program was set up after some returnees from Guantanamo failed to reintegrate into society. “It was only the sixth group of returnees onward that were put through the program. Most of those who returned to their previous ways had not been put through it.”

The program, he added, also has marriage and Umrah pilgrimage schemes through which over 150 detainees have been on the Haj and Umrah journeys with their families at the expense of the Ministry of Interior.

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JEDDAH – A judge at the Court of Cassation in Riyadh has appealed to legal guardians to refrain from rushing young daughters into marriage saying that minors are “unable to understand the seriousness of the responsibility” and that the damage caused by the marriage of minors “outweighs the benefits.”
“Marriage is a binding commitment, and guardians who wish to wed daughters of a minor age are advised not to rush into it and to instead wait until they come of age,” said Judge Ibrahim Al-Khudairi.
“At the same time we can’t prevent a marriage if it fulfills the conditions of Shariah Law, and there are certain circumstances which necessitate marriage, notably if parents fear their children are being led astray or if there are obvious benefits. In such cases marriage is acceptable and permissible,” Al-Khudairi said.
“Marriage contracts can be looked into by the judiciary and annulled if, once the girl has reached adolescence, she claims she was forced into it, or failed to adjust to her new life, or that the marriage was damaging to her,” he said. “The marriage should be in the interests of both parties and not result in exploitation.”
Judge Al-Khudairi cited verse 21 of Surah Al-Rum in the Qur’an:
“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for people who reflect.”
“If the marriage succeeds and there is in the union affection and mercy and no harm results from it to either of the couple, then scholars are in approval,” the judge said.

Changing times

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RIYADH – In its upcoming Sunday session, the Shoura Council is scheduled to discuss restudying the UN Agreement on Combating Corruption in light of the contents of the National Strategy for Protecting Integrity and Combating Corruption that was approved by the Council of Ministers. The Shoura Council will also complete discussion of the annual report for the Ministry of Culture and Information for the fiscal year 2006-07 presented by the Culture and Information Committee; vote on the draft agreement for cooperation between the governments of the Kingdom and Turkey in the field of youth and sports presented by the Social, Family and Youth Affairs Committee; and consider the recommendations of the Transport, Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee on the annual report for the General Corporation for Saudi Arabian Airlines for the year 2006-07. The Shoura Council will also vote on the recommendations of the Water, Utilities and Public Services Committee regarding the annual report for the Ministry of Water and Electricity for the fiscal year 2006-07. Meanwhile, in its Monday session, the council will discuss the draft agreement for cooperation in the field of maritime transport between the governments of the Kingdom and Turkey presented by the Transport, Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee. The recommendations of the Security Committee toward the rise in injuries and mortality rates due to traffic accidents and the necessity to find scientific solutions will be tabled for discussion. Also, the council will discuss the recommendations of the Education and Scientific Research Committee on the draft regulation for the National Commission for Academic Evaluation and Accreditation. These recommendations will be voted on. The council will discuss the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of strategic dialogue between the GCC countries and Turkey presented by the Foreign Affairs Committee. – Okaz/SG