Unregistered Muslim Marriages in the UK, Examining Normative Influences Shaping Choice of Legal Protection

Unregistered marriages are reportedly on the rise within Muslim communities in Europe. Such unions are the outcome of couples concluding a religious ceremony of marriage which does not adhere to the requisite legislative instruments that confer state recognition on an official marriage, with all the subsequent rights and responsibilities attached to and protected by the law. The focus of this chapter is on the seemingly autonomous decision made by a couple choosing to enter into an unregistered marriage; how such a family arrangement is constructed vis-à-vis the practices in wider society, namely cohabitation; and the implications of legal intervention for personal autonomy.