Dushanbe Opens Criminal Cases Over Underage Marriage in Tajikistan

The authorities in Tajikistan have reported several cases involving the marriage of underage girls, with criminal cases opened in Dushanbe since the beginning of the year over violations of the country’s legal marriage age. According to the Dushanbe branch of the Interior Ministry, law enforcement agencies have identified five cases this year in which parents arranged marriages for their underage daughters. Criminal investigations have been launched in all cases, and inquiries are ongoing. Officials reminded the public that under Article 13 of Tajikistan’s Family Code, the legal age for marriage is 18. The only exception is by court decision, which may lower the marriage age by no more than one year. Despite these restrictions, the authorities say some parents continue to knowingly violate the law by marrying off their daughters before they reach the legal age. The Interior Ministry also stressed that criminal liability applies not only to parents and intermediaries, but also to those who conduct underage marriage ceremonies and to adults entering into marriage with minors. Separately, Dushanbe authorities have registered nine cases under Article 169, which covers marriage with a person below the legal marriage age. Criminal proceedings have been opened in all of them. Police have urged citizens to comply with the law and to respect the rights and legal interests of girls when arranging marriages. Under Article 168 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code, parents, guardians, and other individuals involved in arranging the marriage of a girl below the legal marriage age can face criminal liability. The law provides for corrective labor for up to two years or restriction of liberty for up to five years. Article 169 covers entering into marriage with a minor or actual cohabitation in such a union. Punishment includes fines ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 calculation units, depending on the annual rate set by the government, or corrective labor for up to two years.

Uzbekistan Proposes Ban on Marriages Between Relatives

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice has drafted legislation that would ban marriages between distant blood relatives, including unions between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and cousins up to the third degree, UzNews.uz reported. The proposed penalties for violating the ban include fines or correctional labor of up to two years. Exceptions would apply only in cases where one of the prospective spouses is an adopted child and no biological relationship exists. Under current law, Uzbekistan’s Family Code prohibits marriages between close blood relatives in a direct ascending or descending line, as well as between full and half-siblings and between adoptive parents and adopted children. The proposal follows alarming findings from a recent study highlighting the genetic risks associated with consanguineous marriages. According to Zamin.uz, researchers from the Center for Advanced Technologies have identified dozens of new genetic mutations in Uzbek individuals. The study revealed that every second child tested carried a hereditary mutation, and nearly 86% of children were found to be carriers of at least one damaged gene, twice the international average. Researchers attribute this trend to the high prevalence of kinship marriages, which in some Uzbek regions account for roughly one-quarter of all unions. Experts warn that these genetic anomalies not only increase the likelihood of hereditary disorders but also elevate the risks of diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer. The study's authors strongly recommend introducing genetic testing for couples prior to marriage as a public health measure.