India, Nov. 4 -- A senior Muslim cleric has issued a fatwa (Islamic decree) declaring the marriage between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and journalist Nidhi Razdan 'invalid' under Islamic law.

All India Muslim Jamat national president Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi termed the marriage 'najayaz' (invalid).

Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said, "Islam has laid down certain conditions for marriage and those conditions must be met for the marriage to be called a valid marriage."

He said Islamic law permits a Muslim man to marry a woman belonging to certain other religious communities, subject to specific conditions.

He further claimed that Razdan should have converted to Islam before marrying the Chief Minister. ...