Imam charged after children married in mosque

The cleric will appear before magistrates' next week

An imam has been charged after two children were allowed to marry each other in a mosque.

Northamptonshire Police said Ashraf Osmani had been charged under forced marriage legislation after he allegedly conducted a Nikah wedding ceremony involving two 16-year-olds at Northampton Central Mosque in November 2023.

Mr Osmani, 52, from Northampton, is the serving imam at the mosque.

The Bangladesh-born British national has been charged under Section 121 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, as amended by the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 and he is due to appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court on 11 September.

Under the legislation, introduced in 2023, it is illegal to arrange for under 18s to marry under any circumstances, whether or not force is used.

Those found guilty of the offence face up to seven years in prison.