German justice minister demands total ban on child marriage

According to German law, marriage is permitted from the age of 18. If granted permission from a family court, it is also possible for a 16-year-old to marry, provided that the partner is 18 or over.

The issue becomes more complex, however, when an already-married couple arrives in Germany, with one partner underage. Legal precedent stipulates that marriages performed abroad are legal in Germany if they were legal in the country in which they were carried out.

In Saturday's online edition of "Passauer Neue Presse," German Justice Minster Heiko Maas said he was to tighten Germany's laws to prevent child marriages.

"It is only possible to get married from the age of 18," the Social Democrat (SPD) said. "We will not accept child marriages."

'Prerequisite for successful integration'

Maas intends to ban all marriages of minors under the age of 16 "without exception." Under his proposals, child marriages which were certified abroad would also no longer recognized in Germany.

"Our state cannot allow girls under the age of 16 to be married," Maas said, adding that "in principle, even marriages among 16 to 18-year-olds should not be recognized."

In these situations, however, a case-by-case test could be useful, the justice minister said - especially in cases of particular hardship, for example when a child already exists in the marriage.

"It is very important to me that every decision always focuses on the well-being of the affected woman."

Those who come to Germany must also adhere to the laws in the country, the minister added: "This is a prerequisite for successful integration. We grant refugees rights when they come to our country, and they also have to fulfill their obligations."

Refugee crisis prompts legal conundrum

In the wake of the refugee crisis, child marriage has proven to be somewhat of a legal dilemma for Germany. According to recent figures from the country's Central Register of Foreign Nationals some 1,475 foreign children currently living in Germany are listed as "married" on their official paperwork. Even more concerning, the office said, was the likelihood that the actual number is much higher.

The most highly represented country of origin was Syria (664). There were also many from Afghanistan (157) and Iraq (100). Several youths from European countries like Bulgaria (65), Poland (41), Romania (33) and Greece (32) were also on the list.

While more than two-thirds of those registered as married are between 16 and 18, there are 361 children under the age of 14 legally married and living in Germany.

Maas' comments on Saturday came just days after Germany's Interior Ministry confirmed reports in "Die Welt," that Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (CDU) had suggested imposing fines on Muslim imams in Germany who conduct marriages involving underage children, generally girls. 

De Maiziere reportedly wants to introduce fines for religious officials marrying people under the age of 16. According to information cited by "Die Welt," the fine could be as high as 1,000 euros ($1,114).