Latest news with #CouncilofIslamicIdeology
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025: Fazl announces nationwide protest movement
PESHAWAR: JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that parliament cannot make legislation contrary to the Quran and Sunnah, adding that today's difficulties were being created for marriage below the age of 18. Addressing at a press conference here on Sunday, Maulana Fazl said Council of Islamic Ideology has rejected Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025. JUI chief announced a nationwide protest movement against the recently proposed legislation on underage marriage, declaring the bill contrary to Islamic teachings. JUI-F chief said the Islamic identity of the country was being deliberately targeted and eroded. 'We are still passing through an era of subjugation,' he remarked, alleging that legislation was being made in violation of the Quran and Sunnah, which the JUI-F would never accept. He also lauded the restoration of ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan as Afghan Taliban Afghanistan had condemned terror activities carried out in Pakistan. Fazl stated that democracy had failed to protect its own space, and laws were being enacted under the pretext of FATF and IMF pressures. 'Today, the Constitution is being trampled upon in Pakistan, and we reject these government actions. A robust movement will be launched against them,' he said. He criticised the proposed law on underage marriage, stating that it goes against Islamic principles. 'The condition for marriage in Islam is not age, but physical maturity (bulugh). The JUI-F completely rejects this bill,' he said, adding that the Council of Islamic Ideology had also dismissed the bill. 'No legislation contrary to the Quran and Sunnah will be accepted. Our stance is clear and unwavering,' he reiterated. The JUI-F leader announced a large public gathering in Hazara Division on June 29, where the party will unveil its future course of action. He also commented on global affairs, saying a new conflict has emerged post-9/11. 'JUI-F believes the Asian region must come together in unity and strength,' he added. Expressing concern over regional tensions, he said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'recklessness' had heightened the threat of conflict. India's aggression poses a real danger. Pakistan and Afghanistan are indispensable to each other, he said. Fazl also criticised PPP, saying its protests were not against corruption but against the exposure of their own alleged corruption. He said if there's truly been Rs 40 billion in corruption, mere accusations are not enough. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Clerics in Pakistan urge President to reject bill against child marriage
Several clerics in Pakistan have appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari not to sign a contentious bill banning child marriage into law, according to a report by Dawn. The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025 - aimed at banning marriage under the age of 18 - was sent to the presidency on 27 May after being passed by both houses of the Parliament. However, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) argued that declaring marriage under the age of 18 as rape contradicts Islamic law. CII is a constitutional body in Pakistan that provides legal guidance on Islamic matters to the government and Parliament. It was established in 1962 during Ayub Khan's administration. Clerics against legislation Denouncing the legislation, Maulana Jalaluddin, a CII member and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) representative, argued that the Bill is contrary to the values of our society and our traditions. JUI (F) is an Islamic fundamentalist party which is active in Pakistani politics. He said the Bill was a 'western conspiracy' to damage the family system and claimed it was passed in secrecy without being reviewed by the CII. Maulana Jalaluddin insisted that no legislative body could override the Quran and Sunnah. He warned President Zardari that signing the Bill could cause societal unrest and urged him to stop it from becoming law. Pakistani legislators back anti-child marriage law The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) lawmaker Sharmila Faruqi, who introduced the Bill in the National Assembly, rejected the religious objections. She said the issue should be addressed from a human rights viewpoint. Referring to a 2022 ruling by the Federal Shariat Court, she noted that the state has the authority to set a minimum age for marriage. Senator Sherry Rehman asked the CII to review its position in light of practices in other Muslim countries, many of which recognise 18 as the age of maturity. Bone of contention The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025 has triggered a major controversy in Pakistan with religious fundamentalists demanding that it be halted, warning that bypassing the CII could harm the social fabric. However, a majority of senators, including those from PTI, voted in favour of Senator Sherry Rehman's motion to move the bill forward in the Upper House, rejecting the proposal to consult the CII.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Banning child marriage is un-Islamic, Pakistani government told
Banning child marriage is un-Islamic, Pakistan's government was told after setting 18 as the minimum age to marry. Its Child Marriage Restraint Bill, unanimously passed by both houses of the country's parliament, seeks to protect the rights of children and eventually eradicate child marriage. Any form of co-habitation between adults and minors will be deemed statutory rape and punished by up to seven years in prison and a fine of no less than 1 million Pakistani rupees (£2,663). But the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which advises the government on theological issues, said it rejected the bill because classifying marriage under the age of 18 as rape did not conform with Islamic law. Child marriage should be discouraged but the Bill 'has been declared un-Islamic', it said on Wednesday. Despite the CII's opposition, the Bill is to be signed into law in the coming days by Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president. It will replace British colonial-era legislation that set the legal age of marriage for boys to 18 and girls at 16, although many Pakistani children continue to be coerced into underage marriages. The new legislation will apply to Islamabad, the capital, but politicians and activists hope to roll out similar laws to other areas of the country in the future. A similar Bill was passed in Sindh province over a decade ago. The CII's verdict is unlikely to prevent the law's enactment in Islamabad but it could increase opposition to future legislation in more religious areas. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of underage marriage in the world, with nearly 30 million women – roughly 30 per cent of the female population – wed before the age of 18. Girls Not Brides, a global coalition aiming to end child marriage, has reported that 4 per cent of Pakistani girls and 5 per cent of Pakistani boys marry before the age of 15. During the parliamentary debate, Naseema Ehsan, 50, a senator, shared her personal story of being married at 13 and said she wanted the practice banned. Those married as children are statistically the most likely to drop out of school, and are reported to often face domestic violence, or health complications, particularly with underage pregnancies. Dr Ifrah Aslam, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in Mumbai, said: 'These girls are still growing themselves; their bodies aren't ready to carry a pregnancy. 'Yet many are forced into early motherhood, often without access to contraception or proper maternal care. It's no surprise that we see higher rates of miscarriage, childbirth complications, and even death, both for the mother and the baby.' The Bill notes that research 'invariably proves that child marriage is harmful to both genders and especially girls who have hit puberty and are able to bear children'. It adds: 'Furthermore, child marriages are in complete violation of the rights of children and international obligations and goal five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [which] focusses on gender equality and includes a target to end child marriage by 2030. 'Therefore, in order to restrain child marriages and protect the basic rights of children, it is expedient to enact a law.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
CII takes exception to child marriage bill
Listen to article The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has rejected a bill that bans marriage under the age of 18 in Islamabad, describing it as un-Islamic. The council has also declared the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025, presented by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government, in conflict with Shariah. A meeting of the CII was held on Tuesday chaired by Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi. According to the statement issued after the meeting, the council discussed the bill presented by MNA Sharmila Faruqi of the PPP and passed by the National Assembly on May 17. The bill was introduced with the object to curb, discourage and eventually eradicate the concept and phenomenon of child marriages. It said no Nikah registrar shall register a marriage where one or both the contracting parties are below the age of 18 years. It stated that whoever contravened with or failed to comply with sub-section (1) and (2) of the bill shall be liable to be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which shall not be more than one year and with fine amounting to Rs100,000, or both, unless he proved that he had reason to believe that the marriage was not a child marriage. The bill sought further punishment for male adults above 18 years of age marrying a child. "Whoever, being a male above eighteen years of age, contracts a child marriage shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years but shall not be less than two years and shall be liable to fine," it said. The CII noted that the clauses defining marriage under the age of 18 as sexual assault and prescribing punishments do not align with Islamic injunctions. The statement clarified that the bill to prohibit child marriage was not referred to the CII for review before legislation. The council also found the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025 submitted by the K-P government to be in contradiction with Shariah. The CII emphasized that thalassemia testing before marriage should be optional, not mandatory, adding that, according to Islamic teachings, marriage should be kept free from unnecessary complications. The council also expressed concern over the irresponsible reporting of court decisions. It clarified that forcing the bride's family to provide dowry items is contrary to Islamic teachings. The statement also said that women should have the right to choose whether to keep the domicile of their husband's area or that of their parents after marriage. It ruled that after the completion of iddat — the mandatory waiting period — the husband is not financially responsible for the divorced wife. In Islamic Shariah, iddat is also observed in the event of the husband's death. The CII also proposed amendments to Clause 7 of the Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was referred to it by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and formed a committee to draft a new version of the law. The meeting also considered questions received from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as well as issues related to mudarabah (Islamic finance), housing schemes, and investment matters.
Express Tribune
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CII declares underage marriage bill ‘un-Islamic'
Listen to article The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday rejected a bill banning marriage under the age of 18, calling it 'un-Islamic' and incompatible with Sharia law. The bill, recently passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the Senate, aimed to outlaw child marriages in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), criminalising unions involving anyone under 18. The CII said the legislation's provision to define underage marriage as rape and impose punishments contradicted Islamic teachings. In its latest meeting, the council criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government's proposed 'Child Marriage Prohibition Bill 2025,' arguing it was contrary to Sharia, expressing concern that the legislation had not been sent to the CII for review prior to its presentation in parliament. Read more: NA passes bill criminalising child marriage It concluded with a formal statement rejecting the federal bill, originally tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Sharmila Farooqui. Additionally, the council expressed that while thalassemia testing before marriage could be encouraged, it should not be made mandatory. It emphasised the importance of keeping marriage procedures free from unnecessary complexities, in accordance with Islamic principles. The council was referring to the Sindh Prevention and Control of Thalassemia Act 2013, which makes it mandatory for couples to undergo thalassemia testing before marriage. It also condemned societal pressure on families—particularly brides—to provide dowries, calling the practice un-Islamic. Read more: Fazlur Rehman warns of protests over underage marriage ban bill The council said women should be allowed to retain either their husband's or parents' domicile after marriage. It reiterated that, under Islamic law, a husband is not financially liable for his divorced wife following the completion of her Iddat (waiting period). The CII also announced the formation of a committee to review and propose amendments to Section 7 of the 'Muslim Family Laws Amendment Bill 2025,' following a request from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Separately, the council reviewed inquiries from the National Accountability Bureau on issues related to investments, housing schemes, and Islamic profit-sharing arrangements such as Mudarabah.
