Iraqi girls as young as 9-years-old are being sold for sexual contact (although intercourse with the pre-pubescent girls allegedly is not permitted) with adult men in what they call “pleasure marriages” that can last as little as one hour, an undercover BBC documentary has revealed.

Although the practice is banned in Iraq, eight out of 10 Shia clerics who were approached were willing to carry it out. (There is little doubt you could find the same number of Sunni clerics willing to do it, as well) One of the clerics even offered to help procure young girls for the reporter, the BBC News investigation found.