THE ISSUE OF THE MARRIAGE AGE IN TURKISH LAW AND THE RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGES INVOLVING REFUGEE CHILDREN IN LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN GERMAN LAW
Abstract
Child marriages are currently a major topic of debate both within na-tional legal systems and in international human rights law. In particular, in countries experiencing intense migration flows, the issue of recognising mar-riages contracted under different legal systems gives rise to serious problems in the field of private international law. With the increase in the foreign popu-lation holding temporary protection status in Türkiye, the question of how child marriages validly established under foreign law are to be assessed under Turkish law has become even more pressing. marriages are currently a signifi-cant topic of debate both in national legal systems and in international human rights law. Particularly in states experiencing intense migration, the recogni-tion of marriages established under different legal systems raises serious issues in terms of international private law. With the increase in the foreign popula-tion under temporary protection status in Türkiye, the question of how child marriages established under foreign laws will be assessed under Turkish law has become even more important. The applicable law regarding the capacity to marry under Turkish law is the national law of the parties, in accordance with Article 13 of Law No. 5718 on International Private Law and Procedural Law. However, if the ap-plication of foreign law under Article 5 of the MÖHUK clearly conflicts with Turkish public policy, that law shall not be applied. However, since public policy intervention is considered an exceptional tool in international private law, it must be interpreted narrowly. This study examines the issue of the recognition of child marriages performed in foreign countries under Turkish law within the framework of international private law rules, the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code, and the case law of the Court of Cassation. Furthermore, the regulations in Ger-man law are addressed from a comparative law perspective, and the adequa-cy of the existing regulations in Turkish law is evaluated. The study concludes that there are uncertainties regarding the legal nature of early marriages in Turkish law and that clear legal regulations are needed regarding the recogni-tion of child marriages performed under foreign law.
Keywords
References
- AÇIKGÖZ, Aslı: Dar Anlamda Vesayeti Gerektiren Hâller ve Vesayet Altına Almanın İşlem Ehliyeti Bakımından Sonuçları, İstanbul 2017. AKINTÜRK, Turgut/ATEŞ KARAMAN, Derya: Türk Medenî Hukuku, Aile Hukuku, C. II. İstanbul 2020.
- ANDREA, Marianne: ”Flüchtlinge und Kinderehen”, NZFam 2016, s. 923-929. ANTOMO, Jennifer: “Kinderehengesetz in Karlsruhe – verfassungswidrig, aber nur ein bisschen”, NJW 2023, s.1474-1477.
- ANTOMO, Jennifer: “Was bleibt übrig vom EGBGB? Stand und Perspekti-ven des familienrechtlich relevanten IPR im EGBGB“ FamRZ 2025, s. 1-15.
- ARIKAN, Elif Naz: Kadına Karşı Şiddetin Bir Görünümü Olarak Femisid, On İki Levha Yayıncılık, İstanbul 2023. AYAR, Ahmet: “Türk Medenî Kanunu'nda Düzenlenen Evlenme Ehliyetine Eleştirel Bir Bakış”, KHASHFD, C. 13, Sa. 1, Haziran 2025, s. 137-146.
- BUDZIKIEWICZ, Christine/COESTER-WALTJEN, Dagmar/LILIAN, Gössl/HEIDERHOFF, Bettina/MICHAELS, Ralf/YASSARI, Nadjma: ”Das Gesetz zum Schutz Minderjähriger bei Auslandsehen”, FamRZ 2024, s. 908-918.
- CAMERON, Lisa/CONTRERAS SUAREZ, Diana/WIECZKIEWICZ, Susa: “Child marriage: using the Indonesian family life survey to exam-ine the lives of women and men who married at an early age” Volume 21, (2023), s. 725– 756.
- CEYLAN, Ebru: "Türk Ve İsviçre Hukukunda Evliliğin Şartları İle İlgili Değerlendirmeler”, İKÜHFD, C: 20, Sa. 1, Ocak 2021, s. 7-45. COESTER, Michael: “Kinderehen in Deutschland”, FamRZ 2017, s. 77-80.
- DOĞRUEL, Fulya: “Ekren Yaşta Evliliklerin Kadınlar Üzerindeki Bedensel, Duygusal ve Sosyal Etkileri“, Gaziantep University Journal of Soci-al Sciences, 22 (4) 2023, s. 1094-1112.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Family Law
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Early Pub Date
June 22, 2026
Publication Date
June 25, 2026
Submission Date
March 15, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 21, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 34 Number: 2