Teen Sets House on Fire to Protest Arranged Marriage

A Michigan teen is going to avoid jail after explaining to a judge the unusual circumstances that led her to set her own house on fire while her parents were sleeping, reports the Lansing State Journal. It seems that the Albanian parents of Arlinda Latifi told her they had arranged a marriage for her with a man back in their native country, but the 17-year-old wasn't having it. Telling the judge that she felt "overwhelmed" at the idea, Latifi says she dumped gasoline in her bedroom and in a bathroom and struck a match. Luckily, firefighters kept the damage to a relative minimum, and nobody was injured, says the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. The teen pleaded guilty to arson charges in exchange for 3 years' probation. And the marriage is off. (More arranged marriage stories.)