DAMMAM — Justice Minister Walid Al-Samaani, who is also the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, has directed the marriage officials (Mazouns) to give Saudi wives a copy of the marriage contract as soon as it has been prepared. He said the wives will need these copies to present to the court at times of marital differences especially when the husband denies the marriage. The Justice Ministry sources said the minister's decision was aimed at preserving the rights of the women and to facilitate the court procedures for them. The minister asked the marriage officials to make two copies of the marriage contract one for the husband and the other for the wife. He said the wives' copy should include a clear phrase that this is her copy and added that both the husband and the wife should acknowledge the receipt of the copies by initialing for it. A number of lawyers welcomed the move and said it would end the predicament of the wives especially those who had married through Misyar. They said the copies of the marriage contracts would prove the rights of the wives in cases of inheritance conflicts with the husband's family and will reduce the cases of marriage proofs before courts. Saleh Al-Shabrami, a former judge and a lawyer, said the decision will resolve the problems of the marriage proofs and will put an end to the ploys of some husbands in denying their marriages. He said the copy will enable the wife to know all her rights and the obligations of the husband in the case of late dowry and her right to a job if she wants to work. Shabrami said the copy of the marriage contract is enough evidence for the wife's rights in inheritance. Talib Al-Talib, also a former judge, said the copy of the marriage contract will be very useful particularly for the women, who marry secretly or through Misyar. He said the wife's copy will prevent the husband from denying the marriage or claiming the loss of the copy of his marriage contract.
