14-yr old girl's marriage sparks debate
Published Dec 5 2010
The marriage between a 14-year-old Malaysian schoolgirl and a 23-year-old teacher has sparked a fierce debate in the country.
Underagemarriages, although allowed for Muslims with permission from theSyariah courts and parental consent, are not common in Malaysia.
A local newspaper had reported on Sunday that Siti Maryam Mahmod married Abdul Manan Othman, a family friend, in July.
They were among the 250 couples who celebrated their union at amosque in Kuala Lumpur in an event organised by the Kuala LumpurIslamic department on Saturday
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil KhirBaharom who was the guest of honour at the event, was quoted as sayingthat the 14-year old girl was allowed to be married as long as theSyariah court gave its consent. SitiMaryam Mahmod and Abdul Manan Othman were among the 250 couples whocelebrated their union at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday
The Syariah Family Law states that any Muslim under the age of 16 needed the consent of the Syariah court in order to marry.
However, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk SeriShahrizat Abdul Jalil said the Government did not condone childmarriages and that the circumstances leading to the marriage would belooked into.
"Our stance is - we are not for child marriages. I want to be veryclear here. As far as the Government is concerned, a wedding does notmake a marriage," she said at the Barisan Nasional Convention.
Shahrizat said the ministry held a policy that children below 16years were still in need of guidance, protection and the chance to formtheir own character.
 Shahrizatsaid the concern was not merely about the moral issue of the marriagebut was also linked to the rights of the child and the responsibilitythat came with marriage
"A marriage is aboutresponsibility. She is still a child. We hope the court awarding orgiving consent will be doubly cautious about this," Shahrizat said.
Shahrizat said the concern was not merely about the moral issue ofthe marriage but was also linked to the rights of the child and theresponsibility that came with marriage.
"It’s more complicated than it is," she said, declining to speculate on the reasons behind the wedding.
"I don’t know. We have to examine the case. As far as I know she’sgot the consent of the court. But I implore the courts to be cautious,"she said
Meanwhile, Ivy Josiah, executive director of local group Women'sAid Organization, urged the government to repeal laws that allowedunderage marriage for Muslims.
"Cultural and religious sensitivities should not be excuses for what is clearly a human rights violation," she was quoted by AP as saying.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam made headlines inAugust when he encouraged teen marriages as a way to prevent younggirls from having sex out of wedlock and getting pregnant.
p/s Elok lah kawin klu dah merenyam....dari dapat anak luarnikah! | 
Post time 5-12-2010 11:09 PM
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