Turkey’s state Directorate of Religious Affairs – popularly known as the Diyanet – infuriated the country’s largest opposition party on Wednesday when it said that, under Islamic law, girls as young as nine could marry.

Turkish Religious Authority Says Girls As Young As 9 Can Marry

by Tyler Durden

Wed, 01/03/2018 - 20:10

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Turkey’s state Directorate of Religious Affairs – popularly known as the Diyanet – infuriated the country’s largest opposition party on Wednesday when it said that, under Islamic law, girls as young as nine could marry.

The comments triggered an outpouring of rage on social media, as Turkish women’s groups expressed outrage at the sudden clarification.

The directorate responded that it was only defining points of Islamic law.

Turkey's legal age of marriage is 18 but the practice of underage weddings in religious ceremonies is widespread. Turkish law also allows 17-year-olds to marry with the consent of their parents or guardian, or 16-year-olds in exceptional circumstances with court approval.

The statement on adolescence was posted online by the Diyanet, the state body which administers religious institutions and education, according to the BBC. It said that, according to Islamic law, the beginning of adolescence for boys was the age of 12 and for girls the age of nine. On the same website, it said that whoever reached the age of adolescence had the right to marry.
Thirty lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called on the government to launch an investigation into child marriage