Myanmar monks support restrictions on interfaith marriage
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Yangon - A Myanmar monks' convention has agreed to draw up draft legislation to impose restrictions on interfaith marriage, sources said Friday.
The decision was reached Thursday at a meeting of 1,530 senior monks from across the country who gathered in Yangon to debate legislation proposed by extremist cleric Wirathu that would place restrictions on Buddhist women marrying outside their faith.
The convention agreed to set up an association to pursue the interfaith marriage proposal and other legal means of protecting Buddhism, said Damapiya, the convention's spokesman.
Although Wirathu's original draft law was aimed only at Muslims, the monks' convention supported an amended version that would require any non-Buddhist man who marries a Buddhist to convert to her faith, and requires the women to get permission from her parents and local authorities before going ahead with the marriage.
"We have a team which includes lawyers, well-educated persons and monks who will draw up the draft law to protect our nationals," said Damapiya, equating "nationals" with Myanmar Buddhists.//DPA
