Kyrgyzstan president signs law banning religious marriage rites without official registration

President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev signed on Friday a law banning the religious marriage rites without official registration of a marriage in the registry office, the President's press service reported.

The law was adopted to prevent marriages involving minors by banning the religious consecration of marriage rites with the participation of minors.

The adopted law provides for criminal liability of persons including priests and parents for participating in the religious consecration of marriage with minors, in case of violation of requirements of the Family Code on the marriage age. The legal age of marriage in Kyrgyzstan is 18, although that can be lowered by special dispensation.

Those who violate the law shall be punished to imprisonment from three to five years.

The law aims to protect the rights of juveniles to life, health, education, development and attainment of the minimum age for marriage. Preventing marriages with minors will help to protect children from all possible forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual abuse.

The religious marriage rite called "nikah" is the actual entry into marriage in Islam. After pronouncing special sacred words by the bride and groom with the participation of Mosque representative, they can be regarded as husband and wife. The nikah should be performed in the presence of two witnesses.

The law will come into force after 30 days from the date of publication. Enditem