It is defiance against Civil Law and Laicism; it is not acceptable!

It is defiance against Civil Law and Laicism; it is not acceptable!

“Authorization for mufti marriages”

Amendment of the law on civil registration services, authorizing muftis to act as marriage registration officers is against the secular spirit of Turkish Civil Law and 174^th bylaw of the Constitution.

Marriage registrations by religious authorities do not comply with the secular nature of marriages and of Civil Law. This amendment is against family law and women’s rights reform which are the most noteworthy aspects of the Civil Law and with this amendment , legal capacity for marriage and status of marriage will both be compromised.

Marriages by civil registrars according to 174^th bylaw 4^th clause of the Constitution has been accepted as a reform to guarantee the secular nature of the Turkish Republic.

Imams have knowledge on religious principles. Marriage conditions in accordance to Civil Law such as ability to distinguish, monogamy, age limits, state of being close relatives cannot be properly evaluated by imams and muftis. Marriages performed without conforming to these conditions may lead to problems according to heritage and lineage laws, marriages may become ineffective or can be cancelled. Such authorization given to religious functionaries should be considered defiance against Civil Law and Laicism and cannot be accepted.