Myanmar women object to proposed restrictions on interfaith marriage

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Buddhist monks pray in Mandalay, Myanmar, where government officials have introduced legislation to restrict the marriages of Buddhist women. RNS photo courtesy Shaun Dunphy/Flickr.

Cherry Thein / The Myanmar Times | December 18, 2014

YANGON, Myanmar (RNS) Governments and religious leaders might control who marries whom in Myanmar, but laws can’t restrict love and faith, say women of different races and religions in the country.

Late last month, Myanmar President U Thein Sein sent a controversial draft law to parliament that would restrict the ability of Buddhist women to marry non-Buddhist men. Supporters say the law, which lawmakers are expected to debate in January, would “protect race and religion.”

Some opponents, however, say that rationale is nonsense.

“Love and marriage is a social issue — a clash between parents and partners. It shouldn’t be dictated by religion,” said a Muslim woman in Yangon who is married to a Hindu man. Like other women interviewed, she asked not to be identified in hopes of not showing disrespect to Buddhism and Buddhist leaders.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/18/myanmar-women-object-proposed-restrictions-interfaith-marriage/