Australian Teen Sues Parents Over Arranged Wedding Plan
A 16-year-old girl sued her parents in a bid to escape an arranged marriage, the Herald Sun reports.
The unnamed teen asked a court to place her on the airport watch list so that security could assist her in stopping her parents from sending her off to Lebanon, where their chosen groom lives.
The teen said she met the young man just once.
Meanwhile, the court said applications for airport watch list were becoming increasingly common, reports the Herald.
Federal magistrate Joe Harman said he was satisfied there was a psychological risk to the girl unless the court intervened.
"The young person's evidence makes very clear that she has expressed to her parents that she does not want to go to Lebanon and does not want to marry the person proposed," he said.
"She has indicated also in her evidence that she is fearful for her personal safety, that she has concerns as to what will occur in relation to her mother's reaction once she becomes aware of these proceedings."
Harman said the young girl showed courage in coming to the court to express her fears.
"It is not the right of any parent to cause their child to be married against their will, whether in accordance with Australian law or otherwise," he said.
Harman restrained the girl's parents from removing her from Australia and from harassing, threatening or intimidating her, or questioning her about the court proceedings. He ordered that they surrender her passport to the court. The girl's application for airport watch list was also approved.
The court orders were made just two weeks before the planned wedding in the Middle East in April, but details of the case have been revealed in a judgment published only this week.
The girl told the NSW court her father was aware, although not supportive of the arranged marriage.
If the teen had been sent off to Lebanon, she would return to Australia married. But if the wedding were to take place in Australia, a court order and parental consent would be required because of the girl's age.
The Herald Sun also reported last September that the Family Court had banned another teen, a 14-year-old would-be bride, from leaving Australia.