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Afghanistan/South Asia
Battle over India's marriage age
2004-07-26
A conservative Muslim body in India has gone to the High Court to challenge the legal age of marriage, which currently stands at 18. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board insists that in family matters the country's Muslims should be subject only to Islamic law, known as Sharia.
I wonder if Canuckistan has taken that little fact into account?
It maintains that it is supported by a 1937 act upholding Muslims' right to be guided by this law. The debate has arisen because of a family who have been threatened with arrest because they allowed the marriage of an under-age girl. Fatima Mehjabin and her husband Muazzamil dote on their four year-old son, Fazal, along with his little brother and sister. But the very basis for their marriage is now being questioned in court because when they were wed five years ago, Fatima was 17 - one year under the limit set by Indian civil law.
Have they considered remarrying? No... That would be too simple...
Fatima says: "Muslim personal law says you can marry at 12, so I didn't see a problem with it. There are lots of bad things in society these days, so the sooner a girl gets married, the better."
"Preferably to a close relative, of course."
Posted by:tipper

#7  Rather than trying to stop teens from marrying (since teens marry in many parts of the world-stopping it is too gargantuan a task), I would rather see a focus on putting a stop to arranged marriages.
Posted by: jules 2   2004-07-26 8:10:55 PM  

#6  Well, my paternal grandmother was born in December, 1895, and my dad was born in April, 1911. His youngest sister was born in December,1939 (same mother). Grandma died in May, 1982, with 35 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. This was NOT uncommon for southern/midwestern farm families of the 1800's and early 1900's - marry early, have lots of children, and "live long and prosper". Farm machinery replaced manpower, wealth allowed people to have fewer children, and the "age of consent" has risen higher and higher. It shouldn't be a surprise that the one area of earth where the least amount of advancement has occurred in other areas is also the area where the least advancement in social development has occurred. Shaira law is an anchor around the neck of the Islamic community, and the sooner they realize it the sooner they'll finally crawl out from under that 13th century stone they live under.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-07-26 1:48:34 PM  

#5  Hell, I still it would have worked. ;)
Posted by: Shipman   2004-07-26 1:35:09 PM  

#4  Lol Shipman! That must'ave been one hot cuz!
Posted by: Asedwich   2004-07-26 1:25:43 PM  

#3  Asedwich, from the ages of 10 to about 14 I conspired to move to Alabama not so much for the age limit as for the limits of consangrity (?) fust cousins allowed! :)
Posted by: Shipman   2004-07-26 1:17:59 PM  

#2  It would be really interesting to find some statistical correlation between age of consent, and say, gross domestic product, income per capita, literacy, or whatnot.
India is pretty poor, but generally well educated. Its age of consent is set above other emancipated Third World countries of the Commonwealth, like the 14yr limit in Canada.
On the other hand, some American States have incongruously low age of consent laws---in the 16 year range; but there isn't any immediate danger of that mixing with Sharia law.
Makes me wonder what's going to happen in Canada once Sharia shows its effects in the east---legally enforceable contracts with 14 year olds. Great.
Posted by: Asedwich   2004-07-26 1:13:32 PM  

#1  Coming soon to a State Supreme Court near you!

Anyone know how old the husband is? Sounds like he may be in his late 20's or 30's....
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-07-26 12:05:22 PM  

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