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Monday, October 27, 2008

Cleric Faces Possible Criminal Charges for Marrying 12-Year-Old

from foxnews.com

A wealthy Indonesian Muslim cleric faces accusations of having illegal sex with a minor after marrying a 12-year-old girl selected for him through a contest.

Pujiono Cahyo Widianto, a 43-year-old owner of an Islamic boarding school, wed and likely slept with Lutfiana Ulfa in August after she won a contest to become Pujiono’s second wife judged by his first wife, 26, and followers, the Jakarta Post reported. Additionally, the commission intends to request an edict forbidding marriages to minors as Pujiono has declared plans to also marry a 7-year-old girl and 9-year-old girl, the Post reported.

The girl’s parents admitted that financial difficulties led them to marry their daughter to Pujiono and said the marriage is valid in the eyes of their religion (kawin siri), though not registered with the state, Indonesian Child Protection Commission secretary Hadi Supeno told the Post.
The poor Mr. Widianto should have moved to Massachusetts before doing that:

According to family.findlaw.com

Massachusetts
The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent and/or the consent of a judge, males can marry at fourteen years of age and females can marry at the age of twelve. On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to recognize same-sex marriage. Common law marriage is not recognized.

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