Illegal marriage unions are being massively dissolved in Azerbaijan after the arrest of the father of the 12-year-old "bride"

In various regions of Azerbaijan, including Shamakhi, Agsu, Sabirabad, Lankaran, Kurdamir, and beyond, a significant wave of fathers is annulling previously arranged intra-family agreements for the marriages of underage daughters. This emerging trend is also mirrored in terminated marriage agreements on the part of young men engaged to underage girls, according to Kamala Aghazade, the chairman of the Children's Union of Azerbaijan, as reported to Turan.

Aghazade highlighted a surge in parental concerns about potential arrests for participating in marriage unions involving minors. The Children's Union has been inundated with hundreds of reports, particularly over the last six months, detailing illegal marriages. Girls and boys forced into marriage before the age of 18 have been reaching out, prompting the organization to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Committee for Family, Children, and Women Affairs. Instances of such illegal marriages are deemed intolerable, and the Children's Union is working to address the issue, including psychological rehabilitation programs for underage victims of forced marriages.

The recent widespread rejection of illegal unions follows the arrest of Mubariz Guliyev, the father of a 12-year-old girl engaged in the village of Myamishli, Sabirabad district, on December 29. A criminal case has been initiated against him for orchestrating a marriage without the girl's consent. During the investigation, it was revealed that the "groom" of the 12-year-old girl was a 32-year-old man named Kyarim, clarified Kamala Aghazade.

The Interior Ministry became aware of this illegal union in Sabirabad after an active discussion on social networks sparked by a television program addressing illegal marriages. Kyarim, the older party in the controversial engagement, expressed his belief that betrothal to a child should not be considered a crime.

This incident follows an earlier arrest in October 2022 in Sabirabad district, where a man engaged to a 17-year-old girl was apprehended by the police. It's worth noting that the law in Azerbaijan permits marital relations only after reaching the age of 18.

In response to this growing issue, the State Committee for Women, Children, and Family Affairs had previously conducted an educational event in Sabirabad district to raise awareness about the illegality of marriages involving minors. The recent spate of annulled agreements indicates a shift in societal awareness and a growing rejection of practices that jeopardize the well-being and legal rights of underage individuals.—0—