It's mostly a semantic debate about the meaning of the words 'force' and 'choice'.
Girls aren't 'forced' to marry the guy that turns up on their doorstep one day. But anyone who honestly thinks that they can say 'no, I'd prefer to marry Ahmed' without then facing years of resentment, disapproval, and cold stares from family members is kidding themselves.
I know of one Omani girl who didn't want to marry the guys her father suggested, and instead married an Egyptian. He loves her, she loves him.
But here's the but...
The father will not speak to the husband (even though they all live in the same house).
In fact their children will never be given Omani nationality, since their father is not Omani.
If young girls find themselves being told who to marry, they know they can say no. But they also know that the alternatives will be far worse than a loveless marriage.
It's mostly a semantic debate about the meaning of the words 'force' and 'choice'.
Girls aren't 'forced' to marry the guy that turns up on their doorstep one day. But anyone who honestly thinks that they can say 'no, I'd prefer to marry Ahmed' without then facing years of resentment, disapproval, and cold stares from family members is kidding themselves.
I know of one Omani girl who didn't want to marry the guys her father suggested, and instead married an Egyptian. He loves her, she loves him.
But here's the but...
The father will not speak to the husband (even though they all live in the same house).
In fact their children will never be given Omani nationality, since their father is not Omani.
If young girls find themselves being told who to marry, they know they can say no. But they also know that the alternatives will be far worse than a loveless marriage.