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Philippines' Muslim Mindanao bans forced marriage of rape victims, upholds dignity in new fatwa
Doing so would impose upon the woman two heavy burdens: The trauma of rape itself and the lifelong obligation of being tied to the perpetrator of the crime
- PUBLISHED: Thu 26 Mar 2026, 8:00 AM
The Islamic jurists of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ruled that it is not permissible for the victim to marry her abuser without her consent.
In a religious edict dated February 13 but only released recently, the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta (BDI)— the highest religious advisory body in the Philippines' Muslim region that issues fatwas— has forbidden the practice under Islamic Shari’ah.
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The office said the BDI made the ruling after a thorough review of the issue.
"Doing so would impose upon (the woman) two heavy burdens: First, the trauma of the rape itself and the psychological and physical harm it causes; and second, the lifelong obligation of being tied to the perpetrator of that crime as (his wife), which is among the most unbearable situations for a woman in her marital life,” the fatwa reads.
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The practice is observed throughout the Philippines due to entrenched cultural traditions. It is seen as a way to "redeem pride and dignity."
There were 7,662 known cases of rape in 2025, the Philippine National Police reported, a drop of 9,910 cases in 2024.
The Bangsamoro region has, in fact, fewer reported cases of violence against women compared to other regions of the Philippines, but this is sometimes attributed to underreporting, contributing to the "culture of silence" on rape.
Oxfam Filipinas, the local branch of the global confederation of non-government organisations founded in Great Britain, applauded the fatwa, saying it affirms the fundamental rights of women and girls and emphasises that sexual violence must be met with justice.
“[V]ictim-survivors should not be trapped in a cycle of violence and perpetrators should not evade persecution,” the group underscored.
"The edict sets a powerful precedent for upholding dignity and respect, paving the way for a future free from violence and oppression," Oxfam Filipinas added.
