Report registers rise in number of under-18 married couples

AMMAN — Married couples aged under-18 increased in Jordan by 41.9 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013, the Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI) said in a statement this week, citing an annual statistical report issued by the Chief Islamic Justice Department.

The report is based on regular and repeated marriage cases registered at Sharia courts around the Kingdom. In 2014, 386 husbands younger than 18 were registered compared to 272 in 2013 and 267 in 2012, according to SIGI, which added that 10,834 wives under 18 were registered in 2014.

SIGI said families where both husband and wife are younger than 18 have the right to get married and divorced, but cannot vote, open bank accounts, borrow money, own property, obtain a driving licence and a family book, or register childbirth cases.