‘Stop under-age girls being married in religious ceremonies’

CALLS have been made for a halt to under-age girls being married in religious ceremonies that have no legal status in the TRNC.

Gynaecologist Salih Kavaz demanded that adults who consented to such marriage, including parents and other family members, should face criminal prosecution for “stealing” the health and quality of life of such girls who are often in their early teens.

Dr Kavaz was among experts who spoke out after it emerged last week that a man had been arrested after his child bride, whom he married in a religious ceremony when she was 15, had given birth to their baby in Lefkoşa State Hospital.

Ömer Berber married the un-named girl, who is now aged 16, in Turkey before the couple moved to the TRNC, Lefkoşa District Court was told on Thursday last week. He was arrested after the girl’s age was discovered when she was admitted to the hospital maternity unit, and was then released by the court on 10,000TL conditional bail. In a similar case in 2016, another under-age girl gave birth after a religious wedding.

Dr Kavaz said: “I believe laws should be enacted to prevent under-age marriages because such girls who give birth often suffer mental and physical problems. They are not adults and are having their health and quality of life stolen.”

Paediatrician Nurçin İncirli said short-cutting the normal “stages of sexuality” in this way was “unacceptable and ultimately boils down to child abuse”.

At such a young age, she said, a gymslip mum was “still a child and needs someone to look after her”, and asked: “How can she take care of someone else?”

Dr İncirli added that it was incumbent upon the state to pass laws to prevent such cases happening, and to monitor their enforcement.

TRNC Family Law forbids marriage under the age of 16. Marriage up to the age of 18 requires court permission after examination of the circumstances and hearing the opinion of a child’s parents or guardian and state experts. Social Services Department head Aydan Başkurt said the law did not distinguish between the genders, but the issue normally arose in connection with girls, and their marriage between the ages of 16 and 18 was only allowed as “an extraordinary situation” when it was approved by the department and other establishments.

“Whenever we are alerted about such a situation we take the necessary action with the relative departments. It is not something that is accepted,” said Ms Başkurt.