Iraqi MP Raed Al-Maliki announced that personal status courts in Iraq have started officiating marriage contracts according to Ja‘fari (Shiite) jurisprudence. He described this as a legal development aimed at ensuring justice and simplifying marriage procedures in line with Islamic teachings.
A recent amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law grants citizens the choice of registering their marriage under either Shiite or Sunni jurisprudence. Courts now authenticate marriages conducted by authorized religious figures, ensuring all legal conditions are met.
Iraq’s Personal Status Law, enacted in 1959, has historically applied to all citizens without sectarian distinction. However, the new amendment allows couples to select their preferred religious framework for personal status matters, a move Shiite groups argue aligns with the constitution and addresses various family law concerns.
