The 'Mature Bride' Debate in Didim [translated from Hürriyet Gazetesi, 9 Nisan 2006]
The number of young Turkish men wishing to marry mature British woman is gradually increasing -- in this resort community of 8,500 British-owned homes (soon to be 10,000).
It's being said that the young men are entering these romantic relationships for materialistic reasons, but the mature British women don't seem to mind. They just cite the Thailand example. In the Thai situation, mature British men married young Thai women. So (these mature British women say) why shouldn't mature British women marry young Turkish men in Didim? Which is just what Jennis Haurthon (sic) plans to do with Ibrahim Badak...and Jennis is 28 years older than the 22 year-old Ibrahim.
The upcoming marriage (because it's been so much in the news) has become a 'cause célèbre' -- with equal numbers of supporters and detractors in the local British and Turkish communities speaking for and against it. To people who speak against their marriage plans, Jen says, 'We are in love.'
Since we're not persuaded that 'just rewards' await any of us in the hereafter for our forbearance -- we say, Go for it Jen and Ibo!