In Central Asian Islamic cultures early marriage has been an integral part of the social structure in both the present and the recent past. Child marriage was officially proscribed by the Communist regimes of Central Asia who replaced Islamic family law with secular family law. Soviet and Chinese legislation struck at the heart of many traditional Islamic practices such as early marriage, arranged marriages, and excessive costs associated with the wedding ceremony.

Premodern child marriages were most often contracted between extended family members of elite families…