A few days ago, this newspaper had carried a report about a Muslim women’s organisation asking the government to declare all laws related to child marriage, such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, be applicable to the Muslim community too.

The conference was emotional, with Muslim women weeping as they talked about being married off at 14, 15 or 16. They spoke of lost dreams and not understanding the concept of marriage at that age.