Council of Islamic Ideology Rejects Child Marriage Bill, Declaring it Un-Islamic

Strategic Insights -

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in Pakistan has rejected the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, which aims to fix the minimum age for marriage at 18, as it contradicts Islamic teachings. The CII, a government-backed body that advises on Islamic laws, deemed the bill un-Islamic and decided not to support it. The move has raised concerns among human rights activists and women's groups, who see it as a setback for efforts to end child marriage in Pakistan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) rejected the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, citing Islamic teachings as the reason.
  • The bill aims to fix the minimum age for marriage at 18, but the CII considers this un-Islamic.
  • The CII also rejected the draft of a similar bill, the Child Marriage Restraining Bill, referred by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government, as it clashes with Islamic injunctions.
  • The CII decided that Thalassemia screening before marriage should be optional, not compulsory, and instead emphasized awareness campaigns to prevent complications in marriage.
  • The body condemned irresponsible reporting in the media on court decisions, including the Lahore High Court's decision on Khula.
  • The CII declared that demanding dowry or forcing families to do so is against Islamic teachings.
  • The CII advised parents to make decisions regarding rituals, marriages, and other matters in accordance with Islamic teachings.
  • The Supreme Court of Pakistan sought the CII's opinion on whether a woman should retain her domicile after marriage, and the CII declared it a matter of personal choice.
  • Two committees were formed: one to make the Auqaf department more effective and dynamic, and another to prepare a comprehensive draft of Muslim Family Laws.

Sources:

  • Official statement issued by the CII media wing after the meeting
  • "CII rejects Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025" ( source not specified in the original text, but citing news articles from reputable sources)
  • Other news sources mentioning the CII's decisions and opinions on various topics