In a landmark judgement, Bangladesh’s top court stated that the word ‘virgin’ must be removed from Muslim marriage certificates in the country.
The verdict came after campaigners challenged the ‘humiliating and discriminatory’ term, according to reports.
Under the country’s Muslim marriage laws, a bride has to select one of three options on the certificate — whether she is a kumari (virgin), a widow or divorced.
The court while giving the judgement on Sunday also ordered the government to replace the derogatory term with ‘unmarried’.
The court is expected to publish its full verdict by October.
The changes in the certificate are expected to come into effect after the final verdict is published.
Notably, rights groups of the country have been criticizing the term for quite some time.
The term was used in certificates since they were introduced in 1961.
They were of the view that it breaches the privacy of the woman getting married.
The judgement also ordered authorities to introduce the options ‘unmarried, widower or divorced’ for the groom on the certificate.