Author: Agencies/ London
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 26, 2003
The leader of Britain's Muslim Parliament
has warned that many women are legally unprotected when their marriages
end because they wrongly believe that Islamic wedding ceremonies are recognised
by British law.
Ghayasuddin Siddiqui has asked Imams
not to conduct weddings unless they are accompanied by civil registration.
That means they can be left with minimal rights on divorce or the death
of their partner. Siddiqui issued the warning after being contacted by
an increasing number of women who have found that their marriages were
not legally binding. Legal experts compared the situation to the widespread
but unfounded belief in "common law marriage", when in fact cohabitees
have far less rights than spouses.
"It's partly a lack of knowledge;
couples think the marriages are legal,"said Siddiqui. "But some women tell
me they were promised civil ceremonies which never came. People are doing
it knowingly and exploiting women and that was what really horrified us.
"Some people take the cover of religion and say marriage is in the eyes
of God and they don't trust in man-made laws - this sort of nonsense.
"Then one day the locks are changed
and it's all over. The woman has no legal protection." Widows can find
that they lack pension rights and have no rights to their partner's property
if he has not left a will. Mosques and other Islamic centres can be registered
for the solemnisation of marriage but, according to the Office of National
Statistics, only 160 have done that. Couples who wed in unregistered ones
must arrange a civil ceremony for their marriage to be legally binding.
