Last week, Yle reported claims that some immigrant families in Western Finland were sending their underage daughters abroad for forced marriages. Islamic scholars say such cases are not about religion and girls should have more information about their rights.
Attendees at the weekend Islam Expo in Helsinki were clear about Islam forbidding forced marriages. None were aware of a single case in Finland. Many suspected reports to be merely rumours.
Faduma Mohammud of Helsinki speculated girls may have been sent abroad after straying from treligious strictures and misbehaving:
According to Islamic scholars – not even bad behaviour would justify a forced marriage.
Imam Annas Hajjar says forced marriages are not a part of Islam at all – when marrying both parties have to answer “yes”.
Read More: http://yle.fi/uutiset/watch_islamic_scholars_claim_forced_marriage_claims_exaggerated/6953103
Tags: Child Marriage Act, cultural stereotypes, forced marriage, halo project, haloproject, honour based violence
