The Penal Code states that for those who organize weddings and register marriages for people under marriage age, imprisonment of two years may be imposed.

In 2000, 5485 marriages were contracted in Estonia, in 2001 the number was 5647 and in 2002 it was 5853.

Artificial insemination and embryo implantation may be performed with the consent of both spouses in a registered marriage.

Ms. Akşit (Turkey) said that 93 per cent of marriages in Turkey were recognized civil marriages and only 7.5 per cent were religious marriages that had no standing under the law, but which the Government was trying to record as unofficial marriages.

Marriages that contravene this regulation are considered as premature marriage (in contravention of the law) and must be invalidated by Court.

(2) whoever enters into a marriage with a person they know is married will also be punished by the penalty from paragraph 1 of this article.

Dual marriage article 231 states (1) who enters into a new marriage although is already married will be punished by a prison sentence of up to one year.