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Underage Marriage of 15 and 13-Year-Olds Reported in Indonesia's South Sulawesi
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Underage Marriage of 15 and 13-Year-Olds Reported in Indonesia's South Sulawesi

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • A child marriage involving a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl has been reported in Takalar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
  • The marriage, which occurred on August 15, 2026, was reportedly a simple ceremony held at the groom's home and officiated by a local resident.
  • Local religious affairs officials confirmed the underage marriage but corrected the reported ages, stating the couple was 15 and 13, not 12 as initially circulated, and that the marriage occurred after an alleged elopement without official KUA registration.

A marriage involving minors has sparked concern after photos and videos circulated on social media in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Initial reports suggested both individuals were 12 years old, but local officials have since clarified their ages.

Yes, an underage marriage has occurred.

— H. Ahmad NajamuddinHead of the Mangarabombang Religious Affairs Office (KUA), confirming the incident.

The marriage took place on August 15, 2026, in Dusun Bontobaru, Desa Cikoang. The ceremony was reportedly simple, attended only by family members and officiated by a local resident named Muhammad Kasim Tuan Kasang. The groom's home served as the venue for the wedding vows.

H. Ahmad Najamuddin, Head of the Mangarabombang Religious Affairs Office (KUA), confirmed that an underage marriage had occurred. However, he corrected the widely circulated information regarding the couple's ages. According to his office's verification, the bride is 13 years old, and the groom is 15 years old, not both 12 as initially reported.

Based on field verification, the couple was not both 12 years old, but rather 15 and 13 years old respectively.

— H. Ahmad NajamuddinCorrecting the ages of the bride and groom as reported in social media.

Najamuddin explained that the marriage appears to have followed an alleged elopement, known locally as 'angnyala.' The families reportedly resolved the matter internally without involving local government officials or village leaders. Crucially, the marriage was not registered with the KUA and proceeded without their knowledge or approval, contravening legal requirements for marriage registration in Indonesia.

The marriage also proceeded without the knowledge of the Mangarabombang KUA and did not go through the application and registration process as stipulated by law.

— H. Ahmad NajamuddinExplaining that the marriage was not officially registered.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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