Rejecting a marriage proposal isn’t an option any longer for people in Chad. Such an act could attract a fine henceforth.
In Mangalmé in north-eastern Chad, people who reject marriage proposals must now pay a fine, known as “amchilini”.
The region’s Higher Islamic Council ruled that the figure be between $23 and $39 for women and $15 for men.
The Islamic Council says its decision was inspired by the Quran but many rights activists oppose the move.
The Chadian Women’s Rights League has launched the hashtag #StopAmchilini to denounce the decision.
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p data-reactid=”.qj2ljy5qa0.0.2.0.0.1.0.$lx-commentary.$lx-commentary.2.0.1.1.1:$post-62f3b4e121e03625cb4a3b4d.0.6.0.0:$post_3″>It said it the new law is illegal since it violates a national law guaranteeing freedom of consent to marriage.
Forced marriages are prevalent in Chad, with young under-age girls the usual victims.
Despite a law passed in 2015 that prohibits child marriages, 60% of women aged between 20 and 24 were married when they were still children, according to figures from Chad’s Institute of Statistics.
