Imam Ibrahim Omerdic found guilty of marrying 14-year-old girl

MELBOURNE cleric Ibrahim Omerdic believed to be the first person to be charged with forced marriage, telling girl she had “a duty to obey your husband”.

Ibrahim Omerdic leaves the Melbourne Magistrates court. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A FORMER Muslim cleric has been found guilty of marrying off an under-aged girl to an adult man in Melbourne.

Magistrate Phil Goldberg said on Thursday he found Ibrahim Omerdic solemnised the marriage of the girl and a 34-year-old man.

He is believed to be the first person ever to be found guilty of a forced marriage charge, the Herald Sun reports.

Omerdic, who was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque, had fought the charge, claiming the “marriage” was not subsequently formalised under Australian law.

Omerdic was found guilty of conducting a child bride wedding ceremony. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“I’m satisfied the prosecution has proved all elements of the charge,” Mr Goldberg said on Thursday.

Video of the ceremony was screened previously in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, and Omerdic could be heard telling the girl’s mother and her betrothed that she was “very young”.

“As a wife you have a duty to obey your husband,” he told the girl in the video. Omerdic was sacked after his arrest in November and his marriage licence certificate was revoked.

He told police he thought the girl was 17 and he did not consider the pair officially married as he had not seen their ID and proof of age. Omerdic’s bail was extended and the matter returns to