Islamic Solution to Pakistani Society and Contemporary Social Issues: A SpecialFocus on Coerced Matrimony

Abstract

A coerced marriage occurs when a bride and groom are compelled into a marital union against their wishes, typically by their parents or family members. In such instances, young girls and women often find themselves unable to complete their education and are deprived of educational opportunities. They may become pregnant at a young age and become entirely dependent on their spouses. Coerced marriage subjects females to immense physical and psychological pressure.Frequently, young women are sent to their parents' homeland under the guise of visiting relatives, only to find themselves betrothed to someone chosen by their families. Despite the global advocacy for human rights in the 21st century, coerced marriages persist in various countries. In some regions, such marriages are considered customary, and the younger generation may feel powerless to resist their parents' wishes.While coerced marriages are prevalent in Arab countries, they also occur in developed nations, particularly in cases where merging families' assets or social statuses is a concern. The Quran expressly prohibits the coercion of women into marriage, emphasizing the importance of free consent in matrimonial unions. (1)1