"Pleasure Marriages": When paradise becomes a playground for exploitation
A disturbing trend is casting a shadow over the tourism industry in many countries and catching up in India this is on the Indonesian model: the rise of "pleasure marriages," a temporary union between local women and foreign tourists, often fueled by economic desperation.
Private resorts are the popular destination for Middle Eastern tourists, and this troubling practice where everything starts off. Agencies facilitating short-term marriages between local women and foreign visitors, often for the duration of the tourist's stay. These arrangements, known as "nikah mut'ah" or "pleasure marriages," involve the payment of a bride price to the woman, followed by a brief, informal ceremony.
While these unions may appear consensual on the surface, they often involve women from impoverished backgrounds who are driven by economic necessity. These women perform domestic duties and provide sexual services during the temporary marriage, essentially becoming commodities in a transactional exchange.
One young woman, Anika (name changed), shared her experience of entering into such a marriage from the tender age of 17. She has been "married" over 15 times, each time to a different Middle Eastern tourist. While the initial bride price may seem substantial, after deductions by agents, the women are often left with a meager sum. Once the tourist departs, the marriage is dissolved, leaving the woman to fend on her own.
Anika explained that these temporary marriages, while exploitative, provide a means of survival, allowing her to support herself and her ailing old age parents. Another woman, Rani (name changed), shared a similar story, having been "married" at least 20 times before finding a permanent partner and leaving the practice behind.
These "pleasure marriages," while rooted in Shia Islam tradition, are widely condemned as unethical and exploitative. Many Islamic scholars, including those within the Shia community, denounce the practice as incompatible with the true spirit of marriage. Furthermore, many countries do not recognize nikah mut'ah as legitimate.
The issue has sparked outrage, no legitimate action is taken on the parties involved and the practice persists because it benefits the tourism industry and the local agents which is a big nexus.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Prameya's editorial stance.
