Three Western Australian men have been charged over the alleged forced marriage of two teenagers in Perth.
It is the first time the Australian Federal Police have laid charges for this crime in WA.
Police allege the teenagers, one of whom was aged between 13 and 15 and the other 17, wanted to date each other but relatives told them they would have to be married for cultural reasons.
A religious ceremony took place in 2023.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said forced marriage was a complex crime.
“The legal age for marriage in Australia is 18; and while a child aged 16 to 18 can obtain permission from a court to marry, the person they wed must be an adult,” he said.
Chwal said forced marriage often involved family members as victims and perpetrators.
“The AFP’s key focus is to disrupt and prevent this crime – by building awareness of the laws in Australia, the warning signs of forced marriage, and the help that can be provided to victims,” he said.
“If victims do not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, there are many services and agencies which can provide support to help ensure their safety.”
The charged men faced Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, each charged with one count of causing a person to enter into a forced marriage in circumstances of aggravation.
The maximum penalty for the offence is nine years’ imprisonment.
Chwal said forced marriage was not limited to any cultural group, religion or ethnicity.
“Anyone can be a victim of forced marriage, regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation,” Chwal said.
Forced marriage has been illegal in Australia since 2013.
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