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First prosecution under child marriage ban results in suspended sentence
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A Northampton imam has received a suspended prison sentence after becoming the first person convicted under legislation criminalising child marriage in England and Wales.
Ashraf Osmani, 52, was sentenced to 15 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to two counts of carrying out conduct for the purpose of causing a child to enter into a marriage. The offences arose from his role in officiating a Nikah ceremony for two 16-year-olds at Northampton’s Central Mosque earlier in 2025.
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which came fully into force earlier that year, raised the legal minimum age of marriage to 18 and created new criminal offences covering both forced and non-forced child marriages. The prohibition extends to religious and cultural ceremonies that purport to create a binding marital relationship, regardless of consent.
The case was referred to Northamptonshire Police following safeguarding concerns. After reviewing the evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Osmani, concluding that a prosecution was in the public interest despite the absence of coercion or force.
At sentencing, the court heard that the young people involved had requested the ceremony themselves and were in a consensual relationship. However, prosecutors emphasised that the legislation is designed to protect children from the risks associated with early marriage, including long-term physical, emotional and social harm.
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In public comments following the case, the CPS highlighted that faith leaders and others in positions of community authority are expected to be aware of and comply with changes in the law. A claimed lack of knowledge of the legislation did not provide a defence.
The prosecution is legally significant as the first application of the new child marriage offences and signals a willingness by authorities to pursue cases even where there is no evidence of force, threats or coercion. Practitioners are likely to view the case as clarifying the scope of the offence and the approach that will be taken to safeguarding referrals involving religious or cultural marriage ceremonies.
The CPS reiterated that child marriage forms part of a broader landscape of ‘honour’-based abuse, which can be difficult to detect and report due to family and community pressures. Prosecutors handling such cases receive specialist training and work closely with police and safeguarding partners.
Campaigner Payzee Mahmod, whose advocacy contributed to the change in the law following her own experience of child marriage, described the conviction as an important step in ensuring the legislation has practical effect. She also stressed the importance of accurate data collection and inter-agency cooperation to identify patterns of abuse and prevent cases from going unaddressed.
For family law professionals, the case underlines the need for vigilance where under-18s are involved in religious or cultural marriage arrangements, and reinforces that consent is no longer determinative. Any ceremony intended to create a marital status may now carry criminal consequences for those facilitating it.
