Turkey has passed a new law to allow Islamic muftis to conduct civil marriage ceremonies, a move which liberal critics say undermines Turkey’s secular constitution and opens the door for child marriages.

The legislation, which was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week, gives government-endorsed clerics the same powers to perform marriages as civil authorities like judges.

Before the law passed, couples would need be married by a secular state authority but could also have an Islamic ceremony performed by an imam. Now, couples can bypass the secular authority and have a single marriage under the auspices of a mufti.

The CHP, Turkey’s secular opposition party, has strongly opposed the bill and argues that it is part of a broad Islamist agenda that seeks to do away with Turkey’s century-old tradition of secularism in public life.

“You are making all segments of the state - from education to marriage - religious. This is exactly the opposite [of secularism]” said Murat Bakan, a CHP parliamentarian.