Marriage Syndicate calls parliament to eliminate customary marriage

CAIRO – 30 September 2017: Chief of Marriage Officiant Syndicate, Islam Amer, called on the parliament on Saturday to enact legislation criminalizing customary marriage for those under the age of 18.

Amer added that every marriage registrar knows that if he violated this will be held accountable and will be dismissed from his position.

“There were some cases before, and shortly after, the revolution, but recently we have blocked all legal gaps that allow this,” stated Amer.

Amer added that there will be awareness campaigns across all governorates, including syndicates, heads of centers and representatives of the National Council for Women, to warn of the dangers of marriage customary for minors.

This came after the conference held by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to announce the population count along other statistics in Egypt. Sisi stressed that both the government and society must pay close attention to the data presented which sheds light on many issues and challenges.

The president drew attention to the fact that there are a large number of girls who are unofficially married at the age of 12, many of whom are divorced and widowed.