Hyderbad, bypassing Muslim law and the ultimate betrayal.

          At the age of 17, Nausheen Tobassum was forced by her parents under vague and heavily pressured circumstances to marry a much older man, and for an incredibly brief, finite period of time. The article written by The Telegraph explains that under Muslim law, prostitution is heavily forbidden, and so as a means of bypassing the sacred law, men like Usama Ibrahim Mohammed, pay heavy sums to wed a wife in lieu of finding a prostitute. The 44 year-old Sudanese married father and oil executive was provided with four options for marriage in a hotel, the meeting of which was arranged by Nausheen's aunt, Mumtaz Begum. After being chosen by Usama and consequently asked for sex after the marriage, Nausheen refused. Even after an attempt by Nausheen's parents to coerce and intimidate the girl into consummating the marriage, she refused and soon made a swift runaway. 
          According to authorities, Usama had been suggested a visit to India by a friend who had a similar liaison with a young girl for 40 days. Because of the economic state of India, girls are often exceptionally less expensive than in Sudan. Usama paid ₹100,000 (around $1,833) to Mumtaz, which was dispersed in different quantities between herself, the victim's parents, the Qazi (government-appointed Muslim priests) and a translator. The groom, aunt and Qazi were placed under arrest while the girl's parents went into hiding but are being charged with "arranging a child marriage, 'outraging the modesty' of a woman, and criminal conspiracy."
"I didn't know what was happening and I agreed in ignorance. They forced me. They changed my date of birth certificate and made a fake one, where I was shown as 24 years old. They exploit girls and that's why I went to police. I had to show courage to go to police against my parents. I don't want to go back to my home, I am scared," she said.
Nausheen is currently living in a government home for girls.

          The unfortunate events that occurred happen quite often all around the world, and are one of the many ugly footprints of capitalism. According to the article, parents often view these offers as vehicles of payment for their many daughters' weddings. The concept of the parents of the bride paying for weddings are a testament to ancient traditions and have the ability to express such high fiscal pressure that parents feel selling their children temporarily will help the girls out in the future with their true weddings. Not only was Nausheen stripped of all autonomy in the process, but she was pressured by several close family members to have sex with a complete stranger. I found the family-fueled pressure on the underage girl to be deeply troubling and quite revolting. Keep in mind, Nausheen was one option of four girls, which means the vile act of 'choosing' by her mysterious suitor was largely based on aesthetics. This story is the absolute personification of capitalism's built-in sexism. Nausheen is one, dare I say, lucky girl who managed to escape from the misguided clutches of an abusive family and a voracious and greedy husband who would sooner defile a life than offend his moral standing. What a burden it must be, for Usama to be forced to buy a bride for his extramarital affair on the grounds of morality.

This is just one of many stories in history that has an incredibly somber ending. I feel it disrespectful to ask, "what would you do?," or anything too deeply related to the situation, but this is something that needs to be addressed, shared and stopped. Feel free to share stories you guys have heard that are relevant to the sex trade or moral impoverishment via capitalism. Thank you.