PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 September 2012
Islamic Marriage Must be in Accordance with British Law –
Husaini Islamic Centre’s Response to The Sunday Times Article Underage Marriage.
The Management and Members of Peterborough’s Husaini Islamic Centre do not recognise the alleged remarks of Imam Mohamed Kassamali, who is reported to have discussed the possibility of underage marriage in Britain with The Sunday Times.
In line with our practice, we are in the process of carrying out a full independent enquiry on this matter. The imam has temporarily stepped aside by mutual consent with the Centre while an investigation takes place.
A legal, British civil marriage certificate is a prerequisite for any Islamic marriage (Nikah) officially conducted at the Husaini Islamic Centre. We respect the law of the land and since the establishment of the Husaini Islamic Centre, no under legal age marriages have been conducted at the Centre, nor will it be allowed.
We find the practice of forced marriages to be abhorrent, reprehensible and totally un-Islamic and we support the Forced Marriage Unit, established by the Government, in its attempts to tackle this issue.
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Notes to Editors
For all enquiries please email: pboro_jamaat@yahoo.co.uk
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