Civil marriage in Lebanon opposed by Saudi religious panel

The Saudi committee for scientific research and the fatwa said on Thursday that a bill proposed by Lebanese President Elias Hrawi to institute civil marriage contravenes Islamic Sharia (Islamic law).

Under the leadership of Saudi Mufti Sheikh Abd El-Aziz Bin Baz, the committee rejected the suggestion of the Lebanese the civil marriage law, by saying in a statement that it was supporting the stand of the various Lebanese Islamic bodies who oppose the bill, such as the high Islamic legal council in Lebanon and the Muftis council under the leadership of Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Mohamad Rachid Kabbani.

The controversial bill approved by the cabinet last March is pending the needed approval of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri who opposes it. The bill would give Lebanese an additional option of marrying without the need for religious clerics to be involved, and would make easy the process of inter-faith marriages which currently forces faith conversion of one of the two parties to the other person's religious affiliation. Also, the issues of inheritance that are faith based would become uniform.

The bill was the source of friction last year between the Lebanese Prime Minister and the Lebanese President who supports the bill and has seen it as necessary for the country. The bill has popular support in the country.