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Last update - 16:43 14/06/2008 Egypt battles 'sex tourism', bans 92-year-old from marrying teen By News Agencies Tags: Arab, Egypt, sex tourism  The Egyptian authorities have banned a 92-year-old man from the Persian Gulf from marrying a 17-year-old Egyptian girl under a new law, designed to battle the phenomenon of rich Arab men marrying young girls from developing areas of Egypt. The law, initiated by the Egyptian Justice Ministry, stipulates a maximum 25 year age difference between partners in order for marriage to be permitted by law. According to data published in the Egyptian daily Al Akhbar, 173 couples with an age difference of more than 25 years married in Egypt last year. Advertisement Experts say that the "sex tourism" phenomenon has become more and more commonplace as a result of the growing oil wealth prevalent in the Persian Gulf, in contrast with the growing poverty in certain areas of Egypt and Syria. "Many rich men are arriving and simply buying the girls from poor families," a sociology professor at a Lebanese university described the situation. "There is a belief among Arabs that old men marrying young girls can thus regain their youth," she said. The prices in Egypt for a bride are currently somewhere between $500 and $1,500, the newspaper reported. In most cases, the girl becomes a servant in her husband's house after the wedding. The girl has the option of filing for divorce several months after the union, but in those cases her family is forced to pay an unrealistic sum as high as $10,000 to compensate the older man. Most poor Egyptian families could earn that kind of sum in 10 years or more. Related articles: MKs Avital, Gal-On condemn 'sex tourism' ad campaign Sex tourism to Israel? Knesset members fume at 'porn ads' Eastern promises Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.   1.   Whatever happened to the 72 virgins for free? 18:00  |  Pervert 14/06/08   2.   Whatever happened to the 72 virgins for free? 18:00  |  Pervert 14/06/08   3.   the good news and the bad news 23:17  |  josefa 14/06/08   4.   hah! 23:18  |  potobac 14/06/08   5.   Winston Churchill and Islamic way of life 00:44  |  Shoshana Thomasson 15/06/08   6.   Subject... 00:52  |  Snowflake 15/06/08   7.   snowflake 6 01:50  |  potobac 15/06/08   8.   #6: Snowflake 02:07  |  Lamboutchy 15/06/08   9.   #3: Josefa (Understand the basics of Islam then comment) 02:19  |  Lamboutchy 15/06/08   10.   Forcing western hypocrisy on us 02:30  |  Ismael 15/06/08   11.   WHY DENY THE MAN HIS LAST MINUTES OF PLEASURE;WHY DENY THE OLD.. 03:38  |  glenna 15/06/08   12.   #10 Ismail. You are wrong! It is the business of the daughter... 04:11  |  Maureen Ann 15/06/08   13.   Only if you are a mother you can understand the horror 08:37  |  miriam 15/06/08   14.   lamboutchy, go back to school! 09:42  |  josefa 15/06/08   15.   Dear Muslims, 10:00  |  Abraham 15/06/08   16.   Someone with knowledge in Islam, 11:28  |  MR 15/06/08   17.   "In most cases,the girl becomes a servant in her husband`s house" 11:55  |  PETER SM 15/06/08   18.   peter sm 17 13:07  |  potobac 15/06/08   19.   90 year old man fathered Yishmael 22:25  |  Yechiel Rachamim 15/06/08   20.   @16, Mr 00:50  |  Oui 16/06/08

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