"These people have the right to practice their religion the way they choose."

Question

When "practicing their religion" means allowing their young daughters to be raped by older men, do you agree? Do you think that the government is engaging in "Big Brother" tactics when it prevents you from selling your daughter into sexual slavery?

Answer 1

I think that we should have the right to practice our religion, don't get me wrong. But when your religion involves hurting someone else - like human sacrifices, honour killings, or giving your young daughters to older men as "wives" - I think there is a limit. Our right to swing our arms ends where someone else's nose begins. Those girls have the right to not be raped by these men - even more right IMO than their dads have to practice their religion.  

Answer 2

As a matter of fact no, they do not have the right. The 1st amendment provides that we can believe whatever we what, but practice beliefs that are not illegal. A person has the the right to believe his children can be sold as s*x slaves, but that doesn't mean he has the right to actually do that.

Answer 3

Maybe we should start a war with Sweden or Spain since the age of consent would be 15 and 13 respectively?  They have a right to believe what they want.  When someone has s*x with someone who is underage - that person should be prosecuted.  And if their mothers and fathers are accomplices in this, so be it.  Everyone should have a right to a fair trial though.

For some reason I think these folks believe that it's consensual.  Our secular law differs.  The amazing thing is that here we generally allow people to hold different opinions and beliefs from what the law is.  We just punish them if they act on them without changing the law.  It shouldn't be a crime to teach your kids what you believe.

Answer 4

The losers in this case were the young women and girls who were being used by these much older men as concubines in the name of religion. I understand we need a separation between church and state but it's sickening when our laws and/or constitution are the cause of grave injustices-but this isn't the first or last time that injustice prevails.    

Answer 5

Freedom of practicing religion is very different from violation of secular law.  Slavery is forbidden, sexual assault is a criminal offense, polygamy is a violation of secular law, and so clearly there's some sort of confusion about Freedom of Religion and how in and of itself this doesn't confer the right to violate secular laws.

Answer 6

I don't believe in conspiracy theories, since I've read Umberto Eco.

Answer 7

I believee this case was handled incorrectly. But I also think something needs to be done to protect those in this group that are being abused,. Religion is no excuse for it. Can I simply make up my own religion that says I can kill people/ We also stop people from abusing,sacrificing or transporting exotic animals, snakes etc for religiouss purposes. Should more protection be extended to a snake then a 13 yr old child.

Answer 8

I suppose its ok (not really) if they're being compliant with the law in their country. I think its illegal in the US though. Yeah I'm pretty sure it is.

Answer 9

Basic human rights should override cultural and religious standards that violate them.

Answer 10

No, I don't agree. Freedom to worship the god of your choice has little to do with sexual slavery. That is where things start to get muddled, when people maintain that such things are within their religious beliefs. Of course, this is my viewpoint in simplified terms.

As for the first comment about the age of consent in Sweden. It is 15 but it is not the lowest country in Europe. This is good because it means teens at a reasonable age can have consensual s*x without fear of prosecution. Swedes acknowledge that s*x is a natural part of life.

Oops......looks like "Blah" beat me to it. haha