The Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq announced, on Sunday, its support for amending the Personal Status Law, as proposed in the House of Representatives, stressing that it will not be limited to “marrying minors” and depriving “women’s rights.”
This came during the Supreme Judicial Council hosting a meeting to discuss the draft amendment to Personal Status Law No. (188) of 1959, as amended, according to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency.
During the meeting, it became clear that “the media statements that summarize the draft amendment and portray it incorrectly, as if its purpose was (marrying minors, or depriving the mother of child custody, or depriving the wife of alimony, and depriving the daughter of inheriting real estate), were inaccurate,” according to the statement.
He added that “this portrayal contradicts the truth and what this amendment aims for, if it becomes clear that the basis of the idea of amending the current Personal Status Law is based initially on the text of Article (41) of the Iraqi Constitution, which states ((Iraqis are free to adhere to their personal status according to their religions, beliefs or choice, and this shall be regulated by law)), so the issue related to personal status is a choice for the person but according to a law issued by the Council of Representatives.”
The statement of the judiciary indicated that “the original draft law proposed did not address the detailed provisions related to family matters, such as marriage, divorce, custody, alimony, and other matters related to the legal and jurisprudential aspects, but rather referred these topics to the Code of Legal Rulings, which will be prepared later by the Scientific Council in the Shiite Endowment Office and the Scientific and Fatwa Council in the Sunni Endowment Office in coordination with the Supreme Judicial Council and submitted to the House of Representatives for approval within (6) six months from the date of the enforcement of this law.”
shafaq.com
