19:00, 16 November 2011

Criminal liability for coercion to marriage enacted in Azerbaijan

According to the amendments to the Marriage and family code and Criminal code of Azerbaijan introduced at a session of Milly Majlis on November, 15, persons who compel a woman to marriage will be held criminally liable.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that the deputies suggested on October, 27, to enact criminal liability for those who force women to marriage and raise marriage age for girls.

According to the amendments, an additional clause No 176-1 stipulating a fine to a sum of 2 000 manats (2 546 dollars) to 3 000 manats (3 819 dollars) or a two-years' term of custody for coercion to marriage was included into the Criminal code, "Trend" reports.

According to Ali Guseinli, Chairman of Parliamentary committee for legal policy and state construction, if a person under marriage age is force to marriage the party at fault will be fined to a sum of 3 000 to 4 000 manats (5 092 dollars) or four years of custody.

According to the amendments made to the Marriage and family code, marriage age for woman was established as 18 instead of formerly stipulated 17, "1news.az" reports.