Saudis moving forward, Jordanians backward (maybe)

The good news: Saudi Arabia is planning to pass a law in the near future to make it illegal for a girl under the age of 17 to get married, in a bid to eliminate the many child marriages (legal statutory rapes) that have been embarrassing the kingdom, especially when little girls are forced to marry old men to their parents can get paid.

The bad news: Islamists in Jordan are pushing to change the age at which girls can marry without parental consent from 18 to 15. A feminist activist retorted that even 18 is too young for girls to get married - unless they are pregnant and need to ensure that the child would be legitimate. (She is against girls being forced to marry their rapists.)

(h/t Ali)