Wide-angle exterior view of Northampton Magistrates’ Court, a large, pale stone civic building with a strong, rectangular Art Deco–style design. The building spans several blocks and features long rows of evenly spaced windows, flat roofs, and clean, symmetrical lines. A taller central section rises above the rest of the structure, giving it a solid, institutional presence. In the foreground is a wide, quiet road with painted lane markings, while small trees with autumn foliage and trimmed shrubs line the pavement around the court. The sky is bright blue with light cloud, and the building is well lit by daylight, emphasising its scale, formal architecture, and public function as a court building.

STATEMENT: Faith leader sentenced for underage marriage ceremony

A faith leader who oversaw a wedding ceremony for an underage couple has been sentenced to 15 weeks in prison.

Ashraf Osmani, 52, carried out a Nikah ceremony – a form of marriage under Islamic law – at Northampton’s Central Mosque in 2023 at the request of two 16-year-olds, despite the legal age rising to 18 earlier that year. 

The case is the first of its kind under the new law banning child marriage in England and Wales. 

Osmani pleaded guilty to two charges of carrying out conduct for the purpose of causing a child to enter into a marriage, but claimed in his defence that he was not aware that the law had changed.

Afrah Qassim, CEO and Founder at Savera UK, said: “We welcome the sentencing in this case and are pleased to see this important law, that is designed to protect young and those who may be at risk, has been used effectively.

“The two young people involved were in a consensual relationship and requested this marriage of their own volition, but as a faith leader will important standing in his community, it was Osmani’s professional obligation to be aware of the laws around child marriage, advise them and act accord to law.

“What he did was a criminal offence with the potential to cause harm, and ignorance is not an excuse for allowing laws protecting children to be broken. We would like to commend those who raised the safeguarding concerns and the CPS who considered the importance and public interest of this case.

“We hope that the sentencing will act as a deterrent for others who may support and allow child marriage, and raise awareness of this important piece of legislation that is there to protect.

“Working frontline in communities and professional settings, we frequently see that people are not aware of laws such as those that make child marriage and harmful practices like virginity testing and hymenoplasty illegal here. If even serving police officers and community leaders are not aware of these laws, it follows that communities will also not have this vital knowledge about their rights.

“Policy changes and new legislation are vital, but so too is their communication. New laws are championed in parliament and national newspapers, but these sources do not reach communities, who may not engage in politics or even read in English. 

“The government must take learnings from this case and ensure that when new laws are made they are also properly funding and working with organisations who are engaging directly in these communities, who have built trust and can open dialogue around these issues and ensure that people know about these laws and are aware of their rights.”