View source for Child marriage among Muslims in Kerala

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}

The issue of '''child marriage among Muslims in Kerala''' was addressed by a circular issued on 14{{nbsp}}June 2013 by the social-welfare department of the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] (part of [[Kerala]]'s ruling [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF)). The circular instructs marriage registrars to register Muslim marriages even if the parties have not attained the age fixed by the [[The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006|Child Marriage Act]]. Political parties and Muslim women's organisations have said that this would encourage child marriages. Following an amendment, only underage marriages occurring before 28{{nbsp}}June 2013 could be registered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/underage-marriage-among-muslims-in-kerala-ignites-debate/1177466/1 |title=Underage marriage among Muslims in Kerala ignites debate - Indian Express |publisher=Archive.indianexpress.com |date=2013-10-03 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ananthakrishnan G. |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130624/jsp/nation/story_17041236.jsp#.U5bf3HZ79NQ |title=Child marriage row in Kerala |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=2013-06-24 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref> Nine prominent Muslim organisations in Kerala took legal action seeking exemption from the community marriage-age restrictions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-keralite-muslim-group-wants-supreme-court-to-legalise-child-marriage-4382436-NOR.html |title=Keralite Muslim group wants Supreme Court to legalise child marriage |publisher=daily.bhaskar.com |date=2013-09-22 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muslim-groups-want-minimum-marital-age-scrapped/1/311127.html |title=Muslim groups want minimum marital age scrapped : Featured, News - India Today |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=2013-09-22 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> saying that the minimum marriage age for women (fixed at 18 by the Child Marriage Act) as well as its [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] endorsement infringe on the [[Muslim Personal Law#Muslim law|Muslim law]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Marriage-Age-Row-CPIM-Says-IUML-Behind-Move/811169 |title=Marriage Age Row: CPI(M) Says IUML Behind Move |publisher=Outlookindia.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref>

=={{anchor|IUML position}}Background==
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) opposes the Child Marriage Act on the grounds that it contravenes the [[Women in Islam#Legal matters|Muslim personal law]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Special Correspondent |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/muslim-groups-oppose-ban-on-child-marriage/article5155367.ece |title=Muslim groups oppose ban on child marriage |publisher=The Hindu |date=2013-09-22 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Muslim-organizations-in-Kerala-root-for-under-18-marriage/articleshow/22873559.cms |title=Muslim organizations in Kerala root for under-18 marriage - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2013-09-22 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> According to a survey by the [[Malnutrition in India#Integrated child development scheme|Integrated Child Development Scheme]], of the 3,400 girls aged 13 to 18 married in [[Malappuram]], Kerala in 2012, 2,800 were Muslims. In 2008, 4,249 of the 4,955 brides in child marriages were Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/99611|title=Abandoned Muslim wives Victims of early marriage|last=C A|first=Sindhu|date=22 January 2014|website=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/|access-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> Although most Muslim religious organisations and clerics have defended the government circular, Muslim women have opposed it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/child-marriage-indian-union-muslim-league-kerala-underage-marriages/1/287096.html |title=Legalising underage marriage is Indian Union Muslim League's new ploy to gain political mileage in Kerala : NATION - India Today |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date= |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Incidents}}Examples==
A 28-year-old [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) citizen, Jasem Mohammed Abdul Karim Abdulahmed, married a 17-year-old girl from an orphanage in Malappuram on 13{{nbsp}}June 2013. He left the country after two weeks, divorcing her by telephone with a [[Divorce in Islam#Talaq|triple talaq]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Special Correspondent |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/child-marriage-plea-to-extradite-arab-national/article5383058.ece |title=Child marriage: plea to extradite Arab national |publisher=The Hindu |date=2013-11-23 |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref> Outrage over child marriage is believed to have been triggered by this incident,<ref>{{cite web|author=R K Nair |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blogs/blog-rknair/the-politics-of-child-marriage/article5247403.ece |title=The politics of child marriage &#124; Business Line |publisher=Thehindubusinessline.com |date=2013-10-18 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> and the [[Kerala High Court]] later halted the marriage of a 14-year-old girl from [[Kannur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Court-stops-a-14-year-old-girl-from-married-off/articleshow/22188538.cms |title=Court stops a 14-year-old girl from married off - The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2013-08-31 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref>

=={{anchor|In popular culture}}Film==
[[Aryadan Shoukath]]'s film on the topic, ''[[Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam]]'', received national acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|author=R Gopakumar, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 19, DHNS |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/170084/child-marriages-high-kerala.html |title=Child marriages high in Kerala |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-10}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Protests}}Opposition==
The [[Students' Federation of India]] organised meetings at colleges across the state to protest the move by Muslim organisations to legally challenge the minimum age of marriage, demonstrating their opposition by wearing [[gags]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/SFI-organises-protest-meetings/2013/09/25/article1802553.ece |title=SFI organises protest meetings |publisher=The New Indian Express |date= |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/sfi-call-on-marriage-age-of-girls/article5162808.ece |title=SFI call on marriage age of girls |publisher=The Hindu |date=2013-09-24 |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] state secretary [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] said that the IUML was trying to polarise the community to influence [[Lok Sabha]] elections and deny educational rights to Muslim girls by lowering their marriageable age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Marriageable-age-Pinarayi-flays-IUML/2013/09/24/article1800293.ece |title=Marriageable age: Pinarayi flays IUML |publisher=The New Indian Express |date= |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> Opposition leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala [[V. S. Achuthanandan]] condemned the move by some Muslim organisations to reduce the marriageable age of Muslim girls,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Outfits-under-IUML-patronage-challenging-law-of-the-land-VS/2013/09/24/article1800299.ece |title=Outfits under IUML patronage challenging law of the land: VS |publisher=The New Indian Express |date= |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref> and the Kerala Women’s Commission has also condemned child marriage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Officers-must-take-proactive-steps-to-check-child-marriages/2013/10/12/article1832532.ece |title=Officers must take proactive steps to check child marriages |publisher=The New Indian Express |date= |accessdate=2014-06-12}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Sexual ethics |state=autocollapse}}
{{Islam in Kerala}}
[[Category:Child marriage in India]]
[[Category:Marriage in Islam]]
[[Category:Women's rights in Islam]]
[[Category:Islam in Kerala]]
[[Category:Kerala society]]