Child & Forced Marriages
MPV’s Stance On Child & Forced Marriages:
MPV is committed to addressing violations of Universal Human Rights, one of MPV’s Ten Principles, including Child and Forced Marriages, in countries across the world. For far too long, child and forced marriages have been unattended to or dismissed as ‘cultural’ and ‘religious’ issues, a gross violation of human rights that the United States and other Western countries are not exempt from perpetuating. MPV is committed to advocating for the rights of children to fully experience their childhood and for adults everywhere to enter into a marriage or partnership on their volition. We affirm our commitment to ending child and forced marriages across the globe, through an intersectional approach that holds the individuals, be it families or religious figures, accountable for perpetuating this violation of Universal Human Rights, a right which all individuals, especially children, are entitled to, regardless of their faith or cultural background.
Our Work
Education efforts against child marriage
Part of Muslims for Progressive Values’s Mission is to educate individuals about historically accurate & progressive interpretations and understanding of Islamic tradition. One of the most pervasive misconceptions is that Aishah (RA) was a child when she married the Prophet (PBUH). This patriarchal interpretation of Islamic tradition has been used for centuries to justify the permissibility of child marriage, particularly for young girls and teenagers. When in fact a historically accurate analysis demonstrated that Aishah and the Prophet (PBUH) consummated their marriage when she was 19 years old. For a more detailed overview of the impermissibility of child marriage in Islam, read our Women in Islam Series.
2022 Panel: Child & Forced Marriages In The West
On September 17, 2022, Muslims for Progressive Values hosted a webinar “Addressing Child and Forced Marriages in the West: In the Context of Faith and LGBTQIA+” in conjunction with Tahirih Justice Center and Liberal Islamischer Bund.
From the speakers
The event featured a range of esteemed panelists and speakers including
El Farouk Khaki, El Tawhid-Juma Circle
Ani Zonneveld, Muslims for Progressive Values
Dr. Judy Wiegand
Odette Yilmaz, Liberal-Islamischer Bund
Casey Swegman, Tahirih Justice Center
Resources
National Coalition to End Child Marriage in the United States (MPV is a coalition member)
Global Citizen - The Highest Authority in Sunni Islam Just Declared an End to Child Marriage in Africa
The Guardian - Senior Islamic Cleric Issues Fatwa Against Child Marriage
The Hindu - Islam Law Does Not Sanction Child Marriage
Muslim Girl - What Does Islam Say About Forced Marriages?
NPR - How A Former Child Bride Got A Fatwa Against Child Marriage
The Swaddle - Child Marriage Survivor Pushes Islamic Clerics into Signing Historic Fatwa
UNFPA - In Mauritania, Imams Take to Radio Waves to Say Child Marriage is Against Islam
