Opposition to Kerala Muslim groups seeking minors' marriage

The decision of nine Muslim organisations to ask the Supreme Court to allow minor Muslim girls get married has evoked opposition from a Kerala activist and a students' group Saturday.

The nine organisations' leaders met here Friday and nominated K. Bapu Musaliyar as the chairman and Indian Union Muslim League leader C.P. Mayin Haji as the convenor of a newly-formed Samithi to approach the apex court.

Muslim activist V.P. Suhra Saturday said she was opposed to the suggestion as allowing marriage of Muslim girls under 18 years would curtail their freedom.

The Muslim Students Federation expressed anguish over the plan to move the top court and seek approval for marriage of minor Muslim girls.

The federation said early marriage of Muslim girls prevented them from studying and curtailed their progress in life.

The decision of the Muslim organisations to move the apex court has come at a time when last month half a dozen people were arrested in Kozhikode after a 17 year Muslim girl complained that she was forced to marry a UAE national who,  after 17 days of marriage, dumped her and returned to his country.