The innocence of childhood is being brutally violated by inhuman practices where young girls are pulled from their childhood and thrown into marriages that they are not physically or psychologically ready for.

This happens either because of the father’s financial needs or because of obsolete social norms that permit child marriages.

However, fathers are ignoring all the psychological, social and medical studies that have proved the risks of marrying off underage girls. Such marriages can have serious implications for their psychological well-being.

At this early age, little girls will not be able to shoulder the responsibility of building a family, an important brick in the construction of society.

This issue must be tackled using enlightenment and legal processes. It is not understandable why society, which is aware of all the hazards of underage marriages, will sit there claiming its hands are tied behind its back. This is a defeatist attitude.

Maybe one of the means of confronting such violations will be by joining international agreements for the preservation of child rights and putting them into action.

We should also be careful that some tribes would go around such agreements by marrying off their daughters while they are very young, waiting until they reach the legal age of marriage before officially announcing the union.

The media should raise awareness about the health hazards and social implications that may result from underage marriages. There should also be punishments against fathers and marriage officials involved in such unions.

Religious views about these kinds of marriages are split. The grand mufti says it is legitimate from a Shariah point of view to marry off girls when they are 10 years old.

However, renowned scholar Sheikh Abdullah bin Manie said people should not use the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) marriage to Lady Ayesha as a precedent for giving consent to such unions involving underage girls.

Sheikh Yousif Al-Qaradawi is a strong supporter of Qatari legislature that has set the minimum age of marriage as 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

I personally support Sheikh Al-Manie’s stance because it is in line with the requirements of modern times.

The fatwa (Islamic ruling) is liable to change depending on developments linked to current scientific research.

I also hope that Sheikh Qaradawi will suggest increasing the age of marriage for girls to 18 because it is more suitable.

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