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Underage marriage statistics in Baden-Wurttemberg
Overview
Data released by the Baden-Württemberg state government indicates that 358 underage marriages have been recorded in the German state since 2012. The statistics, which were released following inquiries from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, show that the vast majority of these cases—350 since 2015—involve individuals from Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan. Syrian citizens reportedly account for nearly 40% of these early marriages, while marriages between two German citizens represent only 0.3% of the total.
Specific cases highlighted include an 11-year-old Iraqi girl married to a 17-year-old in 2020 and a 14-year-old Afghan girl married to a 30-year-old in 2018. While only eight marriages were formally annulled by courts between 2018 and 2024, recent annulments in 2024 involved a 16-year-old German girl and a 16-year-old Syrian girl. The state government noted that approximately 350 cases were closed under the category of ‘other resolutions.’ These closures may be due to factors such as the death of a partner, the individual reaching adulthood, a decision not to seek annulment, or subsequent marriages occurring abroad.
In response to the findings, there is an increased focus on prevention and awareness, supported by guidance from the women's rights organization Terre des Femmes. Concerns have been raised regarding the risk of students traveling abroad during summer holidays to undergo forced marriages and not returning to Germany. Forced marriage remains a criminal offense under Section 237 of the German penal code. To further combat this issue, Germany has maintained laws against child marriage since the summer of 2017, and the Bundestag passed new regulations in 2024 to enhance protections for minors in marriages performed abroad.
Entities
Tübingen · Alternative für Deutschland · Nikolaos Boutakoglou · AfD · Baden-Württemberg
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] 358 child marriages have been recorded in Baden-Württemberg since April 2012.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Only eight of these marriages were formally annulled by courts between 2018 and 2024.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 350 cases were closed under the category of 'other resolutions'.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Possible reasons for non-annulment include a spouse reaching adulthood, death of a partner, or a decision not to seek annulment.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The ministry focuses exclusively on child marriages contracted abroad.
Timeline
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[INTERNATIONAL] 15 sourcesBaden-Württemberg reports 358 child marriages since 2012
Data from Baden-Württemberg shows 358 child marriages recorded since 2012, with only eight formally annulled by courts. Most cases were closed through other administrative means.
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[INTERNATIONAL] 20 sourcesBaden-Wurttemberg reports 358 underage marriages since 2012
Since 2012, 358 underage marriages have been recorded in Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg, with only eight formally annulled, according to state government data.
Sources
atvbl.rs · cagliarilivemagazine.it · cinquecolonne.it · corcianonline.it · entilocali-online.it · es.euronews.com · espreso.co.rs · espressione24.it · familien-schutz.de · fenix-magazin.de · gazzettadisalerno.it · ilfattonisseno.it · ine.es · inliberta.it · lajmpress.org · lecodellitorale.it · lejdd.fr · maravillastereo.com · melliun.org · modernity.news · n1info.hr · notizie.it · quotidianodelsud.it · quotidianodifoggia.it · rairfoundation.com · redazionenews.it · rights.no · rmf24.pl · sardegnareporter.it · slovenskenovice.si · tr.euronews.com · trapanisi.it · unmondoditaliani.com · vetrinatv.it · wnd.com
This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history