British-Bangladeshi Religious Leader Faces Charges Over Teen Marriage

A prominent religious leader, Ashraf Osmani, a 52-year-old British-Bangladeshi national, has been charged in connection with the illegal marriage of two 16-year-olds at a Northampton mosque. The charge is being brought under forced marriage legislation, according to Northamptonshire Police.

Osmani, the senior cleric (Imam) at the Northampton Central Mosque, is accused of performing a Nikah (traditional Islamic marriage contract) for the two teenagers in November 2023. The police state that the ceremony was illegal because of the age of the individuals involved, with UK law now prohibiting the marriage of anyone under 18, regardless of consent.

The legal action against Osmani is being pursued under Section 121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, as amended by the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022. While the charges do not allege the marriage was forced, the case has brought to light the complexities of aligning religious traditions with modern UK civil law.

Osmani, who lives on Abington Avenue, is scheduled to appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday, September 11.