A dad has married off his 12-year-old daughter to a 26-year-old man and encouraging the pair to have sex.
The man was convicted today of procuring a child under 14 for sex after allowing the Islamic ceremony at his home near Sydney, Australia.
The city's Downing Centre District Court heard the dad, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, wanted to save the girl from what he considered the sin of having sex outside marriage.
So when she reached puberty he decided she should wed, and a 26-year-old Lebanese man visiting on a student visa showed interest.
The dad agreed to the marriage, which was carried out by a local sheikh last year at his home around 150 miles north of Sydney.
On the night of the wedding, which was not recognised under Australian law, the married pair went to a hotel with the father's permission.
They had sex there and twice more at the dad's home the following weekend, Judge Deborah Sweeney said as she handed down her judgment.
"He made up a room and bed... for them knowing they would have sexual intercourse," the judge said.
She added that the girl fell pregnant but miscarried.
During the trial, the court heard the girl was told on the night of her wedding not to use contraceptive pills or condoms as it was against the religious teachings they followed.
The girl's 'husband' has already been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for sexual abuse of a child.
The sheikh who carried out the marriage ceremony has not been charged.
The dad was released on bail and will be sentenced next month.
His daughter is now in the care of authorities.
Source: Mirror.co.uk
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