Islamic scholars and clerics from several Muslim bodies share the view that a girl can not be forced to marry.

The decision was taken at a meeting which was attended by members of AIMPLB, Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband and more than 100 prominent bodies under the banner of Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA).

After a long discussion over 300 participants unanimously decided that "in Islam, the girl has every right to marry the boy of her choice and her parents cannot impose their decision on her," said General Secretary of IFA Amin Usmani.

"The Sharia gives the girl right to choose her future husband," he said.

It was "total unjustice" to force a girl to marry a boy whom she doesn't like, the decision said.

The decision further said that if a girl was forced to marry by her parents or any one against her wish, she can declare the marriage "null and void".

"Forced marriage is not allowed in Islam and if a girl is forced to go against her wish, she has every right to declare her marriage null and void," S Q R Ilyas, an Islamic scholar and spokesman of All India Muslim Personal Law Board said.

Afroz Mujtaba, a cleric, said: "The marriage, if forced on the girl, will be against Sharia (Islamic law)."

"The girl can reject the boy (bride) at the time of marriage or even after it if she doesn't like him," he said.