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Muslim community leaders slammed the proposal to lower the age of consent from 18 to 16 years, arguing that premarital sex or sex outside marriage was against social norms and the culture of the country.

While demanding capital punishment for rape convicts as ordained by Islam, Abdul Rahim Qureshi, assistant general secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said, "It is an irony that the government proposes to lower the age of consent to 16 when the marriageable age for girls is 18. Sex outside marriage is detrimental to society."

Muslim leaders stressed it was not a question of the community but the well-being of the country in general which was spurring them to oppose the move.

The age of marriage according to Muslim personal law in India is 15 years for girls. There is no fixed age in Islam for marriage. In Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), a boy or a girl is eligible for marriage when they attain puberty which is much before 18 years of age, said Zafarul Islam Khan, president, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM), an umbrella body of Muslim organizations.

Community leaders said premarital sex or sex outside marriage was unacceptable not only in Islam but it was against India's social and cultural tradition.

"Lowering the age of consent to 16 will disrupt the social fabric of the country by encouraging sex outside marriage. It militates against India's social norms and culture which believes in sanctity of marital relationship," said Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, secretary, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.

Community leaders believe the proposal would make children in the 16-18 age group more vulnerable. "Instead of protecting our children, this will expose them to manipulation. The children of 16-18 years would be open to exploitation, for instance, by teachers or staff in school," Farooqui said.

Locksley wrote: "It is an irony that the government proposes to lower the age of consent to 16 when the marriageable age for girls is 18. Sex outside marriage is detrimental to society."

The age of marriage according to Muslim personal law in India is 15 years for girls.

Community leaders believe the proposal would make children in the 16-18 age group more vulnerable. "Instead of protecting our children, this will expose them to manipulation. The children of 16-18 years would be open to exploitation, for instance, by teachers or staff in school," Farooqui said

OB1Shinobi wrote: im confused
im tired lol
moving on