The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has rejected a bill passed by the National Assembly and Senate that sought to prohibit marriages under the age of 18, citing dissatisfaction with the proposed fixed age limit.
During a meeting chaired by Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi on Tuesday, CII members discussed the issue of setting 18 as the minimum age for marriage. The Council concluded that a fixed legal age is not consistent with Islamic teachings and emphasized that marriage should be considered within social, cultural, and religious contexts.
The Council stated that while it supports efforts to discourage child marriages through awareness and education, it does not endorse criminalizing underage marriage or treating it as a form of abuse with legal penalties. Members stressed the importance of addressing marriage-related issues through a comprehensive approach that aligns with Islamic principles and societal norms.
The Council also expressed serious objections to the draft legislation approved by both houses of Parliament and formally rejected the bill. The CII is expected to issue its official recommendations after further internal deliberations.
The meeting also addressed other key national issues, with the minimum age of marriage being a primary topic of discussion.