Northampton, UK — A senior religious leader is set to appear in court after being accused of permitting two 16-year-olds to marry at a mosque in Northampton.
According to Northamptonshire Police, Ashraf Osmani, 52, of Abington Avenue, Northampton, has been formally charged under forced marriage legislation. The charge falls under Section 121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, which was updated by the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 to strengthen protections against underage marriage.
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Authorities allege that Osmani, who serves as the Imam at Central Mosque Northampton, conducted a Nikah marriage ceremony involving two minors. A Nikah is a traditional Islamic marriage contract, and in this case, police claim it was performed despite both individuals being under the legal marriage age in the UK.
In a statement released Wednesday (September 3), police confirmed that the Imam, a Bangladesh-born British national, is due to appear before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 11.
Northamptonshire Police noted that, in line with recent guidance, they have disclosed the ethnicity and nationality of the suspect. This follows a broader push for transparency in sensitive criminal cases.
