Unregistered Marriage (Nikah Siri) Practices Among Coastal Communities: An Islamic Legal Review and Social Impact on the Protection of Women's Rights in Sumenep Regency
Keywords:
nikah siri, coastal community, islamic law, women's rights, SumenepAbstract
Unregistered marriage, commonly known as nikah siri, constitutes a widespread yet legally ambiguous phenomenon in Indonesia, particularly among coastal communities in Sumenep Regency, Madura. While Islamic jurisprudence considers such marriages valid when the requisite pillars and conditions are satisfied, the absence of civil registration generates profound legal consequences, particularly in relation to the protection of women's rights. This study examines the prevalence and motivations underlying nikah siri practices among coastal communities in Sumenep Regency, analyzes the Islamic legal framework governing such marriages, and investigates the social and legal impacts on women's rights protection. Employing a qualitative socio-legal methodology with field research, interviews, and documentary analysis, the study reveals that nikah siri in this region is driven by economic constraints, evasion of administrative requirements, polygamous intentions, and deep-rooted cultural norms. The practice systematically denies women access to legal recognition of their marital status, inheritance rights, property entitlements, and civil documentation for children. The study argues that bridging the gap between Islamic religious legitimacy and state legal recognition through comprehensive legal reform, public awareness campaigns, and accessible itsbat nikah (marriage legalization) procedures is essential to safeguard women's fundamental rights within the framework of the Indonesian national legal system.
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