Two stories from the Gulf

Both are pathetic, but at least the second is pathetic in a funny way.

A 16-year-old Saudi girl attempted to commit suicide to escape a forced marriage to a 75-year-old man… her father was forcing her to marry the old man so that he could marry his 13-year-old daughter in an exchange deal. (here)

Saudi Arabia's religious police have announced a ban on selling cats and dogs as pets, or walking them in public in the Saudi capital, because of men using them as a means of making passes at women.. (here)

I read the stories on Marginal Revolution, the two original MR posts (with comments etc) are here and here.
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