Chechnya bans weddings according to Sharia due to coronavirus

A ban on Sharia marriages has been introduced in Chechnya due to the threat of coronavirus spread. Clergymen are forbidden to register marriages in accordance with Islamic traditions until a special order, a source from the republic's Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on April 13.

The residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have stated that the ban had placed those who had already planned weddings in an uncomfortable position.

"News are worse day after day because of this coronavirus. Every day you just hear about new restrictions and prohibitions. They order to bring tezets (wake) down to the minimum; then, they forbid to drive out in a car; then, they forbid appearing in streets in the evening; or something else. Now, they ban marriages throughout the republic. This is a serious blow to those who had set wedding dates and were preparing to marry a son or a daughter. Because the costs are very serious; people have to buy foodstuffs in advance; and now they have to cancel everything," said Zarema, a teacher by her background.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 14, 2020 at 03:53 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.