A Northampton Imam has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to officiating an underage marriage ceremony for two 16-year-olds.
A Ceremony in the Mosque
Ashraf Osmani, 52, conducted the 'Nikah' Islamic marriage at Northampton's Central Mosque in November 2023. He told Northampton Crown Court he was unaware the legal age for marriage in England had recently risen to 18, believing he was helping the teenagers avoid the sin of fornication.
The court heard the pair had toured mosques seeking to marry. Osmani agreed after checking their passports, collecting a £50 fee, and overseeing an application form. Two mosque members acted as witnesses, and the couple celebrated with a meal and social media photos.
Discovery and Prosecution
The marriage came to light when the girl's foster parents found a certificate in her room. Initially, the girl told police no ceremony occurred, but six months later admitted Osmani had agreed after another mosque refused them due to age.
Prosecutor Jennifer Newcomb said Osmani knew the girl was in care and that her foster parents were unhappy. "He did not consider them to be her parents as Islam recognises," she stated, adding he aimed to facilitate marital relations "OK in the eyes of God." However, she stressed "ignorance of the law is no defence" for someone in his position of public responsibility.
Sentencing and Consequences
Mr Justice Akhlaq Choudhury sentenced Osmani to 15 weeks in custody, suspended for one year, describing his approach as "negligent." He noted Parliament changed the law due to the impact of early marriage, especially on girls.
Defence barrister James Gray said Osmani, an Imam since 1996, had no intent to defy the law and asked for passports specifically to check ages. He argued the determined couple might have wed in Scotland, where 16-year-olds can marry without parental consent.
The judge acknowledged the harm was at the lowest level but imposed the sentence as a deterrent to others. Osmani, who pleaded guilty to two counts of causing a child to enter into marriage, has stepped down as a mosque trustee. The conviction could hinder his future community work.
