Other Crap

Iran's government has essentially legalized prostitution, including child prostitution, through the practice of 'sigheh' or 'temporary marriages'

... a mullah arranges a 'legal union' between a man and a girl (some as young as nine years old) for a fee. The so-called marriage can last anywhere from one hour to 99 years. Under this system, men are free to enter into as many temporary marriages as they so desire, without having any legal obligation or responsibility toward the women and children that they marry only to use as sexual objects and slaves.

In other news, Roman Polanski is now studying to convert to Islam.

I guess I shouldn't joke about it. The article is a terrifying look at life inside Iran, constructed from a survey of Farsi-language blogs. The US State Department also has a page devoted to the temporary marriage practice. "The law allowed for the practice of temporary marriages based on a Shi'a custom in which a woman or a girl may become the wife of a married or single Muslim male after a simple and brief religious ceremony. The temporary marriage may last any length of time. According to Shi'a Islamic law, men may have as many temporary wives as they wish. Such wives are not granted rights associated with traditional marriage."

It should be pointed out in fairness that the practice does require the permission of "the girl's father or a male relative." I assume such permissions are not difficult to obtain from either threats or emoluments, but I really don't know.