Thread: Age-old immigrant marriage customs face new scrutiny

Published September 23 2009
Age-old immigrant marriage customs face new scrutiny

A variety of Fargo-area agencies have contended for years with a custom among some local immigrants to marry daughters and sons very young. The practice springs from the culture of Roma immigrants from Bosnia and other Balkan countries.
By: Mila Koumpilova

The case is unusual: A Fargo father accused of trying to kidnap a 14-year-old Kentucky bride-to-be for his teenage son.

But a variety of area agencies have contended for years with a custom among some local immigrants to marry daughters and sons very young. The practice springs from the culture of Roma immigrants from Bosnia and other Balkan countries.

Efforts by Fargo police and other groups to stress the legal repercussions of keeping that custom alive in America have had mixed results: Some families are holding off until their children are 16, when the couple can wed legally with their parents’ consent. Others are keeping traditional ceremonies under wraps. And, in rare cases, girls are rebelling against the custom.

Many Roma do not agree with the practice of early arranged marriages. In any case, snatching a girl without her parents’ consent — as was allegedly the case in the Kentucky incident — is uncommon.

“The parents often get together and come to an agreement,â€

This is a demonstration of the cultural norms of a population impacting on our cultural norms. Interesting to consider the cultural norms of 85-90% of our illegals being from third world countries and the negative impact they have on our country.