Police did not charge imam for minor’s wedding

Police in East Jutland have chosen not to charge an imam for conducting a religious wedding of an underage girl in 2022. Even though it has been illegal since 2021 to perform such ceremonies for minors, authorities did not proceed with the case to protect the young woman’s welfare. Aarhus Municipality, where the marriage took place, was aware and coordinated with the police. The police decided, to avoid escalating the family situation, to support the young woman in other ways. While parents can also be penalized under this law, no convictions have been reported for 2022 or 2023. Integration minister Kaare Dybvad Bek stressed the importance of authorities utilizing legislative tools effectively and noted that the government is considering further measures to combat negative social control, including underage marriages.