GETTY At least 35 child refugees were found to have been wed in their homelands

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At least 35 child refugees were found to have been wed in their homelands before crossing the continent and into Germany. Of that figure the majority - 33 - are young girls, the Youth Ministry for the state of Thuringia confirmed. The youngest among them were revealed to be 14 and 15-years-old. In Germany the legal age to wed is 18, but in exceptional cases can be 16.

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The numbers only refer to unaccompanied child migrants, but a spokesman was unable to say if their spouses were also in the country. Children’s charities such as UNICEF and SOS Children’s Villages have slammed the practice around the globe.

GETTY German courts are now faced with deciding whether the marriages are valid in the country

In countries such as the Yemen and Jordan, it is commonplace for children to be married off at a young age. According to SOS Children’s Villages, around 18 million youngsters each year are forced to be married against their will.

GETTY The youngest among them were revealed to be 14 and 15-years-old

They added that often these children are at the mercy at their often much older husbands, and are subject to sexual abuse, and due to their age suffer problems with pregnancy and birth. Is Islamic law girls can be married aged eight, and boys 12.

Some Islamic states have tried to implement reforms to abolish child marriage with a higher age for legal consent, but this is being largely ignored. German courts are now faced with deciding whether the marriages are valid in the country.

GETTY Some Islamic states have tried to implement reforms to abolish child marriage