Saturday 1 August 2009

Hamas-sponsored mass Palestinian wedding with more than 400 child brides (photo and video)

Hamas-sponsored mass Palestinian wedding with more than 400 child brides


Palestinians participate in a mass wedding of hundreds of Palestinians in the town of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 30, 2009. Over 400 couples were married on Thursday in Beit Lahiya in a ceremony sponsored by Hamas. (AP Photo)
 
 

Hamas sponsors mass wedding for little girls

Hamas sponsored a mass wedding on Wednesday night for '450 couples.'
Hamas dignitaries including Mahmud Zahar, one of the militant group's top leaders, were on hand to congratulate 450 grooms who took part in the carefully stage-managed event.

"We are saying to the world and to America that you cannot deny us joy and happiness," Zahar told the men, all of whom were dressed in identical black suits and hailed from the nearby Jabalia refugee camp.

Each groom received a present of 500 dollars from Hamas, which said its workers had also contributed five percent of their monthly salaries to add to the wedding gift.

The 450 brides shared none of the glamour, taking seats among the audience of around 1,000 party guests: most couples had already taken part in religious ceremonies elsewhere, with more marriages planned for the next few days.

"We are presenting this wedding as a gift to our people who stood firm in the face of the siege and the war," local Hamas strongman Ibrahim Salaf said in a speech.
Now I have raw video of the event, and I want you to pay close attention to the 'brides' - especially as they walk in with the 'grooms' around the 4:00 mark. There is no way that any of these little girls - half the heights of their husbands - is more than 10 years old.

Let's go to the videotape.

Posted by Britannia Radio at 06:35