Confused, Naive American - Explain Chechen Wedding Scandal!

[peacetraveler22]

We all recognize that there are eccentric and deranged people in all parts of the globe, engaged in questionable behavior which we'll never understand or condone. I once thought of visiting Grozny, so perhaps some of you would even place me in one, or both, of these categories. Remember a few years ago, I wrote this post, asking readers whether it's safe for an American woman to travel to Chechnya? Some of my friends in the Russian blogosphere have been there, and even personally met Kadyrov and told me it was safe. All of them - MEN. You can call me a naive or misinformed American, but I can't understand yesterday's events.

I read the scandalous news that Kadyrov granted special permission for an old Police Chief to marry a 17 year old bride! I will not place a photo of the sad, distraught young woman in my blog to further sensationalize her image. On her wedding day, her eyes completely devoid of joy, as if going to a funeral or gas chamber. You've already seen her expressions, her white dress, and the bejeweled head covering, all draped around the delicate frame of a young woman who likely had no say in the events of that day, or in picking her groom. What a sad existence, I'm sorry I can't imagine it, or respect any region where such actions are considered acceptable, and personally authorized by the leader!! I read a lot of stories and comments about this topic today, and I'm particularly disgusted by the post written by Ilya Varlamov, LJ's top Russian blogger, where he can't understand all the fuss or controversy over the wedding.  How can a modern, intelligent man like him not question this event, particularly when he has a young daughter of his own?

Here in the U.S., we have various religious sects engaged in polygamy, many marrying very young brides. The distinction is that our leaders don't advocate or approve of such behavior, nor does most of American society. On some other news sites, I read comments by a few Chechen females stating that the bride's facial expression was normal, that Muslim women don't show overt expression, even during a wedding. According to them, such action would be considered immodest in strict Muslim families.

What do you think of this scandal? Please help me understand "real" Chechen culture and mentality better, not what well-known bloggers show on their hand held tours, organized by Chechen officials. Yes, I know about the Chechen wars and that it's a Muslim region in the North Caucasus, yet it's still part of Russia. I'm especially interested to hear from any female readers I might have living in this area. Help me restore my faith in this region..

Comments

[nagolny.livejournal.com]

Прежде чем судить, лучше бы ознакомиться с традициями, историей.
"Выражение лица" невесты ни о чём не говорит. На Кавказе, действительно, невеста на свадьбе должна вести себя подчёркнуто скромно, или даже выражать скорбь. Между прочим, в традиционной РУССКОЙ свадьбе присутствует обряд оплакивания невесты. Как и во многих других традициях у других народов.

Закон, насколько я знаю, не нарушен.

А факты злоупотребления - надо доказывать, зачем зря поднимать шум?

[lmaria.livejournal.com]

Все уже много раз писали, посмотрите видео чеченских свадеб, там есть скромность, да, но и радость, а тут у человека явное горе. И потом, вся шумиха началась с того, что родственники девушки попросили о помощи, иначе как бы об этом вообще узнали журналисты?

Ей две недели назад исполнилось 17. Не знаю, каким приличным словом это можно назвать.

[nagolny.livejournal.com]

Некорректно судить по каким-то фото и видео, к тому же надо учесть поднятую вокруг этого шумиху.
У меня не вызывают особого одобрения такие браки с большой разницей в возрасте, кроме того, вполне вероятно, что в ситуации у невесты и-или родственников нет выбора. Но также, не надо забывать, что чеченское общество сегодня - весьма традиционное и религиозное и дело отнюдь не только в Кадырове, а в менталитете народа. И люди могут воспринимать всё это иначе, чем Вы. Ну и шум, истерику, гневные осуждения, суждения по себе - как таковые вызывают у меня отторжение сами по себе. Это плохой подход.

[buddhistmind.livejournal.com]

"иначе как бы об этом вообще узнали журналисты?"

The thing is this is to be proven...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Traditions and history? Okay, but never in my mind will it be acceptable to sell off young girls for marriage, even if it's part of the culture and tradition. If a culture also has a tradition of pedophilia, this means we should just accept it? You're right, I don't know the emotions of the girl. No one does, except her, so perhaps it was improper to assume this was a forced marriage. But, I'm a woman. I was once 17 years old...and to think that this young girl would honestly want to be married to a man over triple her age, is almost inconceivable to me.