UNDER-16 MUSLIM MARRIAGES

UNDER-16 MUSLIM MARRIAGES

4.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, in the last five years, (a) what was the total number of Muslim (i) girls and (ii) boys under the age of 16 years who asked for permission to get married; and (b) how many were successful.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Section 96(4) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act provides that no marriage shall be solemnised under the Act if, at the date of marriage, either party is below the age of 16 years. Section 96(5) further provides that a girl below 16 years old may in special circumstances be allowed to marry.

As minors are usually not well prepared for married life, the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) counsels such couples approaching ROMM and refer them to appropriate social service agencies for further counselling and other forms of assistance.

Most couples do not proceed with marriage application after counselling. As such, ROMM does not record an application for marriage except when a marriage is to take place.

In the last five years from 1999 to 2003, there were four marriages that involved brides below 16 years old. No marriages involved grooms below 16 years old.

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