In a case highlighting the persistent issue of child marriage in the region, Andhra Pradesh police arrested a bridegroom and his parents on 18 November 2025 for marrying a 13-year-old girl against her will. The incident took place in Turakapalem village.

The accused had conducted the marriage ceremony at a local church on 9 May 2025. Authorities reported that the pastor and other religious figures presided over the ceremony. The family allegedly coerced the minor into the union by falsely promising she would be permitted to continue her education after marriage.

This case is not an isolated incident. In this report, we take a look at 11 separate instances of child marriages involving evangelical groups in the region between 2011 and 2025. Several of these cases also included accompanying charges of sexual abuse and the violent suppression of the children involved.

#1 Guntur Pastor in Minor’s Marriage & Assault Case – 18 November 2025 – Turakapalem, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

A 13-year-old girl was married to K Danielu in a local church ceremony on 9 May 2025, officiated by a pastor. The groom’s parents, K. Samson and K. Nirmala, were also arrested. Police reported that after the marriage, the girl was sexually assaulted by her father-in-law. Authorities have registered a case under the POCSO Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, noting that action will also be taken against the pastor and the victim’s grandmother who facilitated the illegal union.

#2 Karnataka Pastor Sentenced for Child Marriage – 19 October 2025 – Gangavathi, Koppal district, Karnataka

A court sentenced six individuals, including Pastor Abraham D, to two years in prison for their involvement in the 2020 marriage of a 14-year-old girl. The marriage was solemnized at the Gadwal Camp Church. The convicted also include the groom, Kurupanna, and the parents from both sides. Each was fined Rs. 10,000 by the Principal Civil and JMFC court.

#3 Chennai Groom, Parents Booked for Minor’s Marriage – 2 October 2025 – Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

A 16-year-old girl from Ennore was married to 26-year-old Vignesh Kumar at a church, despite her opposition. Following the ceremony, the victim sought help from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Acting on the CWC’s report, the Pulianthope All-Women Police registered a case against the groom, his parents Dakshinamurthy and Parameshwari, and the girl’s parents.

#4 US Polygamist Leader Gets 50 Years for Child Sex Crimes – 9 December 2024 – Arizona-Utah border, USA

Samuel Bateman, a polygamist sect leader, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme involving sexual crimes with minors. Bateman, who had over 20 “spiritual wives” including 10 underage girls, coerced girls as young as 9 into sexual acts. He also schemed to kidnap them from protective custody. An offshoot of Warren Jeffs’ FLDS church, his group practiced polygamy based on his claimed divine orders, leading to his arrest in August 2022.

#5 Ghanaian Priest Marries 12-Year-Old, Sparking Outcry – 30 March 2024 – Accra, Ghana

A 63-year-old traditional priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, married a 12-year-old girl in a public ceremony near the capital, Accra. The event, defended by the priest’s spokesperson as non-sexual, triggered national outrage and widespread media coverage. In response to the public backlash, Ghana’s Attorney General opened a formal investigation into the incident, scrutinizing the legality and circumstances of the child marriage.

#6 Zimbabwe Sect Blamed for Teen’s Death in Childbirth – 24 April 2022 (Reported) – Harare, Zimbabwe

Fifteen-year-old Anna Machaya died during childbirth just ten days after her birthday while married to a 26-year-old man, Hatirarami Momberume. Her parents, members of the Johane Marange Apostolic Church—a sect accused of condoning child marriage—had consented to the union. After her death, her parents attempted to cover up the circumstances.

#7 Nigerian Bishop Arrested for Marrying 15-Year-Old – 10 September 2020 (Reported) – Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria

Bishop Stephanos Lucky Enofe, 54, was arrested for marrying a 15-year-old girl. The founder of Spirit of Grace Ministry had been in a relationship with the girl since she was 12. The marriage was formalized through both a traditional ceremony in Abia State and a church service in Lagos. The arrest also included the teenager’s parents, highlighting a collaborative failure in protecting the minor from an illicit and exploitative union.

#8 Nigerian Pastor Arrested in Tamil Nadu for Assault – 23 November 2019 – Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

Nigerian pastor Nikki Philip, 51, was arrested for the sexual assault of a Dalit schoolgirl after marrying her in a church ceremony. He had lured the victim’s grandmother with promises of a luxurious life abroad. Further investigation revealed the girl had also been sexually assaulted by another pastor, G. Chelladurai, who had made false promises of marriage. Cases were filed under the POCSO Act and child marriage laws against both pastors and accomplices.

#9 Police Halt Child Marriage at Church in Madhya Pradesh – 27 April 2016 – Satna, Madhya Pradesh

Police intervened to stop the marriage of a Hindu minor girl at the ‘Church of God’. The ceremony was being officiated by Pastor Sam Samuel. The groom had converted to Christianity four years prior. Eleven people, including the pastor and the groom, were arrested under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and sections of the Religious Conversion Act, preventing the illegal union and highlighting the intersection of conversion and child marriage.

#10 US Sect Leader Gets Life for Child Bride Assault – 9 August 2011 – Texas, USA

Warren Steed Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the sexual assault of two child brides, aged 12 and 15. Prosecutors presented audio evidence of Jeffs’ crimes. The trial revealed he had 78 wives, two dozen of whom were underage when he married them, exposing the systematic sexual abuse within the polygamist sect.

#11 Polygamist Ex-Bishop Jailed for Jeffs’ Child Marriage – 8 November 2011 – Texas, USA

Fredrick Merril Jessop, a 75-year-old ex-bishop in the FLDS sect, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for performing the illegal marriage ceremony between sect leader Warren Jeffs and a 12-year-old girl. The court heard that Jessop had married 11 of his own daughters and two granddaughters to Jeffs. This case demonstrated the deep complicity within the sect’s hierarchy in facilitating and normalizing the marriage of minors to older men.

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The post From Andhra Pradesh to Arizona: 11 Disturbing Child Marriage Cases Officiated By Christian Priests appeared first on The Commune.

A disturbing case of child marriage in southern Afghanistan has triggered widespread condemnation after reports emerged that a six-year-old girl was married to a 45-year-old man in Helmand province’s Marjah district. The incident, which has gone viral on social media following the circulation of images from the wedding ceremony, has prompted criticism from Afghan citizens, human rights organisations, and international observers.

According to US-based Afghan news outlet Amu.tv, the man—who already has two wives—allegedly paid the girl’s family in a traditional walwar arrangement, a customary bride price determined by the girl’s appearance, education level, and perceived social value.

Local Taliban officials reportedly intervened after learning of the marriage and stopped the man from taking the child to his home. However, they stated that the girl could be sent to her husband’s household once she reaches the age of nine. While both the groom and the child’s father were arrested in Marjah, no formal charges have been filed. The girl currently remains with her parents, according to Hasht-e Subh Daily.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, rates of child marriage have surged sharply. A 2024 report by UN Women noted a 25% rise in underage marriages and a 45% increase in early childbearing, correlating the trend with the regime’s ban on girls’ education and the economic crisis affecting families nationwide. Afghanistan remains one of the countries with the highest number of child brides globally, according to UNICEF.

The country currently lacks a legal minimum age for marriage. The previous civil code, which set the minimum age for girls at 16, has not been reinstated. Marriages are now governed by the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, primarily the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, which permits marriage at or around the onset of puberty. However, there is no formal or medical consensus on the age at which this occurs.

Human rights groups argue that such interpretations leave children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Girls subjected to early marriages often face severe health risks from premature pregnancies, as well as social isolation, lack of education, and increased exposure to domestic violence.

Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of crimes against humanity, specifically regarding their policies against women. The Taliban dismissed the warrants, calling them an “insult to the beliefs of Muslims.”

Meanwhile, restrictions on women continue to intensify across Afghanistan. Girls are banned from secondary schools and universities, and women are excluded from most public-facing jobs and recreational spaces. Travel without a male guardian is prohibited, and face coverings are mandatory in public.

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The Tamil Nadu government has mandated the appointment of only female security guards at all government and NGO-run children’s homes and women’s hostels following the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl by a male guard at a state-run shelter home in Tambaram.

The incident occurred early morning on 8 June 2025 when the accused watchman, Mathew, allegedly assaulted the new resident while other staff members were absent. The victim, who had joined the facility just five days earlier, sustained leg injuries and underwent successful surgery at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.

Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan confirmed the arrest of the accused guard based on CCTV evidence from the facility’s eight cameras. “The Chief Minister has ordered strict action in all cases of violence against women and children,” Jeevan stated during a press conference while appealing to the media to protect the survivor’s identity after her mother reported distress over personal details circulating on YouTube.

In a significant policy shift, the department has initiated criminal proceedings against the arrested guard. They have also ordered the replacement of all male guards with female security personnel and launched an audit of safety protocols across childcare institutions

The assault revealed alarming gaps in institutional safeguards:

• The warden was on unauthorized leave during the incident
• Despite 130 residents, only a cook was present overnight
• Previous complaints against staff were nonexistent, with children describing the accused as “fatherly“

“This was a trusted employee with 21 years of service,” admitted Jeevan. “That such an incident occurred with a new child makes us question whom to trust.”

The government announced additional measures such as the installation of more CCTV cameras, mandatory female staff presence during nights, strengthening of school complaint mechanisms like ‘Student’s Mind’ boxes, and enhanced monitoring of child helpline 1098.

POCSO & Increase In Child Marriages – What Connection?

The minister also disclosed concerning trends in child welfare, revealing that 48% of rising POCSO cases stem from teenage love affairs leading to underage marriages. When asked if the percentage of child marriages had increased in the state, Jeevan said, “In many instances, we have mentioned that in the case of child marriages, especially marriages where they themselves come forward to marry before 18, all these are registered under child marriage and also under the POCSO Act. Therefore, more than half of the increase in POCSO Act cases is due to child marriages where they themselves come forward to marry due to their love affairs, which is 48%. 48% is due to love affairs/love marriages. That is a reason for the increase in POCSO Act cases. Child marriage is a reason for that and also teenage pregnancy. The main reason for all these three – 48% – is love marriage. We are constantly saying that marriage should happen after completing 18 years.”

Now this is a problematic figure. The number of reported child marriages in Tamil Nadu rose sharply by 55.6% between 2023 and 2024. In 2023, there were 1,054 child marriages. In just 11 months of 2024 (Jan–Nov), the number increased to 1,640. RTI data from the Directorate of Social Welfare reveals that Tamil Nadu witnessed a 45% rise in child marriage cases in 2020 compared to 2019.

So despite labelling themselves as Dravidian Model or progressive model, the state still is regressive when it comes to such social evils.

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Iraq’s parliament passed three contentious laws on Tuesday, including amendments to the personal status law that opponents claim could effectively legalize child marriage.

The amendments grant Islamic courts greater authority over family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Activists have criticized the changes, arguing they undermine Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which unified family law and introduced safeguards for women.

Proponents, primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, defended the amendments as a way to align legislation with Islamic principles and curb Western influence on Iraqi culture.

Currently, Iraqi law sets 18 as the minimum marriage age in most circumstances. The new amendments, however, allow clerics to rule based on their interpretation of Islamic law, which in some cases permits the marriage of girls as young as nine, as per the Jaafari school of Islamic law followed by many Shiite authorities in Iraq.

In addition to the civil status amendments, parliament passed a general amnesty law perceived as favorable to Sunni detainees but criticized for potentially protecting individuals involved in corruption and embezzlement. A land restitution law aimed at resolving Kurdish territorial claims was also approved.

Human rights activist and member of the Iraqi Women’s League, Intisar al-Mayali, warned that the amendments to the civil status law could severely impact women and girls, particularly through the marriage of young girls. She argued it would undermine their rights as children and disrupt protections related to divorce, custody, and inheritance.

The parliamentary session ended in chaos, with accusations of procedural violations. A parliamentary official, speaking anonymously, claimed that half the lawmakers present did not vote, breaking the legal quorum. The session reportedly saw protests, with some members loudly objecting and others climbing onto the parliamentary podium.

Some legislators voiced concerns about the voting process. Independent MP Raid al-Maliki stated that his bloc supported the civil status law amendments but criticized the decision to combine the three controversial laws into a single vote, noting it could lead to legal challenges in the Federal Court.

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani described the laws’ passage as a significant step toward enhancing justice and improving citizens’ daily lives.

Separately, at least three officers, including the national security chief of the al-Tarmiyah district north of Baghdad, were killed in an explosion at an ammunition depot. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said four others were injured during the incident, which occurred as Iraqi army and national security forces conducted an operation in response to intelligence reports of Islamic State activity and an ammunition cache in the area.

(With inputs from CNN)

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In a significant move aimed at eradicating child marriage and ensuring gender parity in marriage laws, the Assam Cabinet on 18 July 2024 approved the Assam Repealing Bill 2024. This Bill seeks to abolish the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935, which permitted underage marriages under specific conditions. The decision, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will be presented during the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly.

Chief Minister Sarma wrote about this on his official X handle. He stated, “We have taken a significant step to ensure justice for our daughters and sisters by putting additional safeguards against child marriage. In the meeting of the #AssamCabinet today we have decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules 1935 vide the Assam Repealing Bill 2024.”

We have taken a significant step to ensure justice for our daughters and sisters by putting additional safeguards against child marriage.

In the meeting of the #AssamCabinet today we have decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules 1935… pic.twitter.com/5rq0LjAmet

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 18, 2024

The 1935 Act allowed for the registration of marriages even if the bride and groom were minors, provided their lawful guardians applied for the registration. This Act’s provisions effectively legitimized child marriage in Assam, despite the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 setting the legal marriage age at 18 for girls and 21 for boys.

In February, the Cabinet initially approved the decision to repeal the Act, to end the social menace of child marriage in the state. Following this, the Repealing Bill was officially authorized in the 18 July 2024 meeting. The Cabinet has also instructed that new legislation be introduced for the registration of Muslim marriages in Assam.

The repeal has faced criticism from opposition parties, who claim the move is discriminatory against Muslims and aimed at polarizing voters in an election year. Nevertheless, the Assam government remains firm in its stance, emphasizing the need for uniformity in marriage registration laws to protect young girls from forced and underage marriages.

The Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act of 1935 was a product of its time, reflecting the then-prevailing social norms. However, with evolving societal values and increased awareness of child marriage’s detrimental effects, the need for its repeal became evident. The Repealing Bill 2024 marks a pivotal step towards aligning Assam’s marriage laws with contemporary legal standards, ensuring that all marriages within the state are consensual and legally compliant.

The repeal will dissolve the positions of 94 ‘Muslim Marriage Registrars’ in Assam, with affected officials receiving a one-time compensation of ₹2 lakhs. This move not only eradicates child marriage but also mandates the compulsory registration of marriages and eliminates the role of Qazis as marriage and divorce registrars.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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Feature Image: Representational Image

In a disturbing report from Kerala, it has emerged that there were as many as 20,995 teenagers who gave birth in the state in 2019 and the data also indicated the prevalence of child marriages as per a report by the Economics and Statistics Department, reports New Indian Express.

The data indicates that the most literate state in India is yet to get rid of the evil practice of child marriage despite its high ranking in social development indicators.

When the report is further dissected, it is revealed that young mothers aged between 15 and 19, 316 of them delivered their second baby, 59 their third, and 16 their fourth, says the Vital Statistics Report 2019.

The report also states that a majority of the women, 15,248, were from urban areas while only 5,747 hailed from rural areas and except 57 teenage girls, the rest of the underage mothers had only elementary education.

As many as 38 of them had primary-level education, and 1,463 had education between the primary level and 10th standard, 57 persons were illiterate and the education status of 3,298 mothers was unavailable.

Public health expert Dr K V Ramankutty said the data warrants a more comprehensive study to have a proper assessment and said, “Obviously, this is bad for the state. Early pregnancy will affect the health of the mother and baby. Also, the mother’s chances for higher education or employment would be low in such cases. A study is required for formulating a policy to address this,”.

The number of live births registered in Kerala in 2019 is 4.80 lakh as against 4.88 lakh during 2018. However, of the total 4,80,113 newborns, 2,44,953 were male and 2,35,129 female which is a significant drop in the sex ratio, and female infanticide or selective abortion could not be ruled out.

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A Chennai policeman has been arrested under the POCSO Act for allegedly marrying a girl who fell in love with her schoolmate near Madurai to ‘save the honour of his family.’

Palanikumar hails from Maikudi village next to Thirumangalam in Madurai district. The 27-year-old joined the police force in 2016. Palanikumar, who had been working in the law and order unit at the Madhavaram Dairy Farm Police Station from the Armed Forces. He was currently driving for the Criminal Investigation Department.

Palanikumar is said to have married his 17-year-old cousin near Samayanallur on the 17th of last month at the behest of his parents. He has been living with his new wife near the Madhavaram police station in Chennai.

District Social Welfare Officer Revathi lodged a complaint at the Madhavaram All Women’s Police Station after she received a complaint from the Child Welfare Organization that Palanikumar had forcibly married the girl and kept her locked up at home. The child marriage, which was held in a hurry to ‘save the family’s honour’, came to light when police inspector Kannaki called policeman Palanikumar for questioning.

Palanikumar’s uncle’s daughter fell in love while going to school. Upon knowing this, her parents and relatives had decided to marry the girl off to Palanikumar, saying that their family’s honour would be affected if she married her boyfriend. Although Palanikumar knew that this was wrong, it was revealed that he had brought his uncle’s daughter to Chennai and married her under the pressure of the family.

Despite being a policeman, the police registered a case against Palanikumar under the POCSO Act for marrying a 17-year-old minor girl, and produced him in court and remanded him in custody. It has been reported that Palanikumar’s wife had informed her boyfriend, who had lodged a complaint with the Children’s Welfare Organization.

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The Haryana High Court has issued a ruling in a case that involved a 17-year-old minor couple who got married against the consent of the girl’s parents and permitted the girl to live with her in-laws.

In this case, a 17-year-old girl and a boy were allegedly married to each other and the girl’s parents had objected to the marriage. The parents had approached the High Court. The court ruled that the girl was allowed to stay with the boy’s mother until she reached the age of majority.

“In considering their request, there is no clarity in our laws regarding child marriages. It is also unclear in the Hindu Marriage Act between non-major persons. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 makes it a crime to have any sexual activity or sexual intercourse with a woman under the age of 18, even if she is his wife. Exception 2 to Section 375 IPC states that sexual and sexual acts with a wife over the age of 15 are not abusive. There are many contradictions like this,” the court pointed out.

“The court cannot say that we should forcibly hand over the girl to her parents or keep her in a care home until she turns 18, against her will. Therefore, the girl can stay with the boy’s mother under police surveillance until she reaches the age of 18, which should be monitored by the Child Welfare Committee, ”the court further ordered.

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The parents and husband of a 12-year-old girl were booked under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act after she had approached the social worker claiming that her parents had forced to marry the man a month ago. The social worker had approached the Pimpri Chinchwad Commissionerate. Upon receiving this complaint, an FIR was filed under the Bhosari police station on the girl’s parents and the 19-year-old bridegroom’s name.

This incident took place in Indiraya Nagar in Bhosari. They had planned and executed this wedding using the COVID-19 lockdown to their advantage and the fact that there will be no police or law enforcement to look into this illegal marriage. This had happened in July.

Police sub-inspector Pooja Kadam, who had filed the FIR, had said, “The girl is 12 years old, while the boy is a 19-year-old from the same community. It seems that it is a ritual in their community. Despite opposition from the girl, no one had listened, and it was performed last month. She had approached a social worker who had guided her to us. Upon enquiry in their locality, their neighbours spilt the beans. Based on the primary investigation, her family was arrested. They later confessed, saying that they had done so under the insistence of their “community head.”

“All the suspects are roadside vendors. We will soon arrest them”, she added. The girl is now safe at her maternal grandparents’ house.

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