Saudi Arabia Bans Underage Marriage
On Monday, December 23, the Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice set 18 years as the minimum age for marriage, as it prohibits marriage of persons under 18.
According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, the Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Sheikh Dr. Walid Al-Samaani on Monday issued a circular to all courts, stressing the banning of marriage for persons under 18 years.
Mr Al-Samaani’s directives are based on paragraph 16/3 of the executive regulations of the Child Protection Law.
The law says:
“Before conducting marriage contracts one has to make sure that marrying a person under the age of 18 will not harm him or her and achieve their best interests, male or female.”
