Watching a TV documentary last night I was horrified to learn that in my country, New Zealand, some young girls are being forced into marriage at 14 years of age or even younger at 12 years old. This is within the Muslim society and although the leaders said they don’t know of it happening there were interviews with young girls and with those who have helped them escape from these forced and often cruel and violent marriages. The weddings themselves are huge community celebrations so they are hard to deny.
In New Zealand the age for consent of marriage is 16 years (with parental approval) and 21 without so these forced marriages are not legally viable but they are fully accepted and enforced within the religious community and it’s not uncommon for these girls to have two or three children before they reach the age of 16.
We could say, “hands off”, it’s not our lifestyle so we shouldn’t interfere and anyway these girls have reached puberty and so are able to marry but it’s all the other factors that are not okay; informed consent is not there, although the girls do agree to the marriage, how could they refuse? They have no escape and those that managed to get away tell of going into hiding with their children always fearful of being found and returned to their husband or family. They tell of violence and control, of not being allowed to attend school (yes these girls are still required by New Zealand law to be in school), not allowed to see their friends and more.
So, is there any good news? Yes, there are specific “Women’s Refuge” groups set up to help these girls and also publicity of what’s happening alerts their communities to New Zealand law and what’s expected when they live here. Also if we all know what’s happening we will look out for out neighbours and schoolfriends and speak out when we see wrong.
