I don't know what to say, but feel I must say something. Maybe later. I shared this with my 1000+ Facebook followers.

An other group of people exploiting people in a vulnerable position.

This is awful. I feel terrible for these women. You are correct. Exploitation is exploitation

Customs are subjective. What we don't allow in the West, isn't the be all and end all of what is right. As the article points out, these marriages pre-date Islam and clearly carry a contract. No help if you cannot read and it has not been explained that you are merely a living sex doll.
Consider to Arabs of this region, that many things we do in the West will be abhorrent. Drinking for example.
What cannot be allowed is for this to enter our culture and become part normal.
It is not an easy thing to deal with. If only all people could be educated to a very high standard everywhere.

Unbearably sad. Truly, I had a hard time reading it.