Indian court ruling on marriage age of Muslim girls disturbing: activists
Women organisations have expressed concern over a Delhi High Court upholding the marriage of a 15-year-old Muslim girl, quoting Mohammedan law on marriage in June 2012.
The court has held the marriage of a minor girl valid, while ruling that a Muslim girl could marry a person of her choice at the age of 15 years if she has attained puberty.
Citing concerns, general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women Annie Raja said: “This is disturbing because one of the reasons for India’s high maternal mortality is early marriage. This will also prevent the girls from enjoying their Constitutional rights like Right to Education.”
While strongly arguing for one’s right to choose one’s life partner, Raja said the existing law on marriage age should be universally applied.
Sudha Sundararaman, the general secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association echoed this view. “When it is a question of rights of minor, we are for equal law and equal rights across the board.”
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board welcomed the decision. Hyderabad-based functionary of the law board, AR Qureishi, said Islamic laws prohibit child marriage and deem a girl who has attained puberty to be fit for marital life. “This is a correct interpretation of Muslim personal law. However, since social realities have changed, most Muslim girls marry at a much later age.”
Filed under: Human Rights, Indian Muslims, Islam Tagged: | Child Marriage & Islam, Clash of Civilizations, Human Rights, India, Indian Muslims, Islam
age of sexual consent in Austria is 14… Finland is 16… France 15…Norway 16…Germany 14… Italy 14… Poland 15…Sweden 15…England 16…Canada 16… North America between 16 to 18 depending on location…. and these are for ALL not just one specific group. And that’s not about marriage but intercourse. Oh, but Turkey is age 18. Perhaps you should do a post on all of these countries allowing child sex.
Hollo iam Zameen Age 16 From Srilanka,Kandy
i love you
marry is better than free sex
If personal laws are upheld in such way acting beyond constitutional norms and basic structure, it must struck down because of public good and minor’s right. Since, constitution is above all, in cases of ambiguity in customs too.
F….p