A mosque imam in Northampton, England, has been sentenced to prison after facilitating the illegal marriage of a Muslim couple, both of whom were underage at the time of the ceremony. The case highlights ongoing concerns about child protection and compliance with British marriage laws.
The imam, Ashraf Usmani, 52, oversaw the marriage in November 2023, when both the bride and groom were just 16 years old. Under English law, the minimum legal age for marriage is 18, making the ceremony unlawful.
During proceedings at Northampton Crown Court, Usmani told the court that he was unaware of the legal minimum age for marriage, claiming that he had conducted the ceremony nine months prior to the official change in legislation.
Usmani previously admitted to two other charges related to arranging child marriages during a prior hearing at the Central Mosque in Northampton. The court accepted that the couple had voluntarily come to the mosque for the ceremony and that there was no element of force or coercion. In light of this, the imam was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Evidence presented to the court indicated that the couple had initially approached another mosque, which refused to conduct the marriage due to their age. Following this, they sought out Usmani, who agreed to officiate the ceremony and charged £50 for the marriage certificate. The court also heard that the young couple celebrated the union with friends immediately afterward.
In his defense, Usmani’s lawyer, James Gray, argued that the imam had 20 years of experience conducting marriage ceremonies and that this incident represented his first error in judgment over that period. Gray emphasized that Usmani had verified the couple’s birth dates with passports, completed the necessary registration forms, and properly documented the marriage within the mosque’s registry.
“These circumstances demonstrate that the error arose from a lack of knowledge regarding recent changes in the law,” Gray stated. “Had the imam been aware of the updated legal requirements, he would never have conducted the marriage.”
The presiding judge acknowledged these arguments but remarked that Usmani’s actions constituted negligence. “Your conduct can only be described as careless. You should have known that the law had changed,” the judge said.
Following the sentencing, Usmani left the courthouse without making a statement, covering his face with his hands and the turban he was wearing.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges religious leaders face in remaining compliant with secular laws while managing long-standing community practices. Legal experts have stressed that all religious officials must ensure that ceremonies involving minors adhere strictly to national legislation, emphasizing that ignorance of the law is not a defense.
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