Bam: Increase in marriages of girls under 13 years old
The head of the Baravat District Court in Bam, Kerman Province, reported an increase in the number of marriages of girls under the age of 13 in the district, saying, “More than 50 percent of these marriages end in divorce after six months.” The physical and psychological harms resulting from child marriage have irreparable effects on the lives of girls, especially pregnancies under the age of 18, maternal mortality, depression, and sometimes suicide attempts, in addition to other harms such as divorce, failure to attend school, and the persistence of the cycle of cultural and economic poverty.
According to HRANA news agency, quoting ISNA, the head of the Baravat District General Court of Kerman reported an increase in the marriage of girls under the age of 13 in this district.
He said while announcing the news: "According to the law, the legal age of marriage is 13 years, although steps are being taken to increase it to 15 years, but it has not been achieved yet. Unfortunately, in the jurisdiction of Barwat, especially in rural areas, they still adhere to old traditions and attribute children to each other from childhood, and when they become adults, they act accordingly and take steps to get married."
Afshari continued: "Unfortunately, families turn to local marriage officials and the marriage contract is concluded, while more than 50 percent of these marriages end in divorce after six months. It is necessary for families to be aware of this in order to prevent such marriages and the consequences that they can have."
The high rate of child marriage before reaching intellectual and mental maturity indicates the extent of this phenomenon in Iran. The age of marriage in Iran is determined based on “sexual maturity,” while experts say that sexual maturity is only part of the dimensions of full human maturity. Growth, awareness, education, and freedom of choice are the most basic and humane conditions for forming a family.
The physical and psychological harms caused by child marriage cause irreparable damage to the lives of girls, especially pregnancies under the age of 18, maternal mortality, depression, and sometimes suicide attempts, in addition to harms such as divorce, failure to attend school, and the persistence of the cycle of cultural and economic poverty.
According to published statistics, over 95,000 divorces involving women under the age of 19 were recorded between 2011 and 2015, with approximately 5,760 of these divorces related to marriages in which the couple was under the age of 15.
Source: HRANA
