India: Muslim Sharia judge misunderstands Islam, forces minor girl into marriage

file photoHYDERABAD - Following the arrest of a qazi on Monday for trying to forcibly marry off a young poor Muslim girl to an Arab Sheikh, police on Tuesday arrested two Sudanese nationals, two qazis and two female pimps for forcing a minor girl to enter into a contract marriage with one of the foreigners. The Sudanese national Mohammed Elshafie Mohammed Elhassan alias Ansari of AC Guards, who is in the city on a student visa, married the girl to exploit her and later leave her when he completes his studies, police said. His friend also tried to take advantage of the girl.  Though there have been instances of Arab Sheikhs marrying young girls from the city, this is the first case where an African national was involved. The contract marriage came to light after the 16-year-old girl from Bela Colony in Moghulpura escaped from Ansari’s clutches and approached the police. The nikah had been performed on June 9 and the girl lodged a complaint with the police on June 23, 16 days after the marriage. According to South Zone DCP Vineet Brijlal, the nikah was performed without the consent of the girl. “The girl hails from a very poor family and her father had expired eight years ago. She is one of five siblings,” the DCP said. Full Story>>