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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Russian law allows marriage at 14 |
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| alzinjibar |
| 10/30/02 at 14:49:10 |
| www.bbc.co.uk mmm what a strange world uh !!! Russian law allows marriage at 14 Russian teenagers will be able to marry at 14 under a draft law approved by the lower house of parliament, the Duma. The law would allow weddings involving 14-16-year-olds only in "special circumstances" and if local authorities granted permission. The law, which was on its third reading in the Duma, must now be approved by the upper house of parliament and signed into law by the president before it takes effect. These stages should be a formality, says the BBC's Stephen Dalziel in Moscow. Parental permission Under the new law, local officials would have the job of deciding what qualified as special circumstances. Weddings could theoretically take place even without parental permission. Under the law, it is not obligatory, but would have to be taken into account by the local authorities. Those not happy with the authorities' decision would be able to launch an appeal. The law would put Russia out of step with most countries around the world. The United Nations Human Rights Commission suggests the marriage age should not be below 15. Consent age The current limit in Russia is generally 16, but marriage at 14 is permitted in some parts of Russia with sizeable Muslim populations. In an apparently contradictory move, parliament voted in June to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16. That bill has yet to go to a second reading. Correspondents say many Russians marry very young, often soon after leaving school or university. The divorce rate is among the world's highest, at around 65%. |
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