18:00, 27 July 2012

Armenian Azidis speak against increasing marriage age

The amendments to the Family Code proposed by the government of Armenia, according to which the official marriage in the country is allowed after 19 years of age regardless of gender, were negatively met by the Azidi community in Armenia.

Currently, the Family Code allows women to marry at 17, and men – at 18. The bill that assumes to increase the age up to 19 for both sexes was brought to the Parliament by the Ministry of Justice, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

An appeal is now prepared to the country's prime minister Tigran Sarkisyan on behalf of the Azidi community with a request to provide reservations in the bill with account of their traditions, customs and religion, Aziz Tamoyan, the leader of the Azidi community said on July 27 during a press conference.

According to his story, for many centuries the Azidis have their own national traditions, "while an 18-year-old girl who is not married is considered as overstayed on the shelf."

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent