Jakarta – The chairman of Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi, said couples who didn't register their marriages should face administrative, not criminal, sanctions.

"I believe administrative sanctions are more suitable," Hasyim was quoted as saying Friday by news portal kompas.com.

He said, for example, the unregistered wife of a civil servant would be stripped of her rights to her husband's allowance from the state. "That's the kind of punishment I have in mind," Hasyim said. He did not specify what punishment the husband would face.

Hasyim said marriage was a civil law matter, thus the need for administrative sanctions. "Criminal punishment is easy to avoid. They can just live together, because doing so is allowed," he said.

Unregistered marriage is recognized under the Islamic law but not registered with the state. To get married under sharia law, a groom needs the bride, her guardian, witnesses and a cleric.