Last week, Yle reported claims that some immigrant families in Western Finland were sending their underage daughters abroad for forced marriages. Islamic scholars say such cases are not about religion and girls should have more information about their rights.
Attendees at the weekend Islam Expo in Helsinki were clear about Islam forbidding forced marriages. None were aware of a single case in Finland. Many suspected reports to be merely rumours.
Faduma Mohammud of Helsinki speculated girls may have been sent abroad after straying from treligious strictures and misbehaving:
According to Islamic scholars - not even bad behaviour would justify a forced marriage.
Imam Annas Hajjar says forced marriages are not a part of Islam at all - when marrying both parties have to answer “yes”.
In contrast, Islam permits arranged marriages. Visiting experts explained that even in these marriages both men and women have the right to choose.
“By forcing a daughter to marry a father commits a sin,” said Abdul-Latif Al Mahmood, Chairman of the Islamic Society of Bahrain. “A daughter should have the right to see the man before marriage. She has the right to say yes or no.”
According to experts, forced marriage may be a feature of some cultures or a matter of ignorance.