People’s Assembly approves draft law introducing stricter penalties to common law marriages

Damascus – The People’s Assembly approved an amendment to the penal code issued by legislative decree no. 148 in 1949, introducing stricter penalties to concluding marriage contracts outside competent courts, SANA reported.

The amendment was set forth in a draft law approved during the 15th session of the 7th Ordinary Session Chaired by Speaker Hammoudeh Sabbagh on Sunday.

The draft law hands down a sentence ranging between one and six months in jail and a fine of 50-100 thousand Syrian pounds for anyone who concludes a marriage contract of a minor outside competent courts without obtaining the consent of the guardian.

The law also imposes a prison sentence and a fine on anyone who enters a marriage relationship with the full knowledge of its invalidity due to a previous marriage or any other grounds set forth in the Personal Status Law. The same penalty shall be applied to any party who concludes this marriage contract with the full knowledge of the previous marital relationship.

Justice Minister Hisham al-Shaar said adopting a stricter line against common law marriages is intended to eliminate a phenomenon detrimental to individuals and society.