The Ministry of Justice is considering a proposal to set the minimum marriage age for girls at 18, rather than 15 years of age, a source said Monday. This comes in the wake of an outcry from certain human rights organizations, and women's groups in the country and abroad calling for the Kingdom to set a minimum age for the marriage of females. An informed source said that several committees at the ministry is studying these proposals. Meanwhile, committees are also studying proposals for the marriage official – Ma'zoun – to officiate a marriage and sign a marriage contract – for expatriates – at their residence instead of requiring them to go to courts to officiate the marriage. This is in addition to a proposal to issue the Ma'zoun with an identity card. Saudis are not required to attend court to have their marriages legalized. The Ma'zoun comes to the residence, performs the Nikah and signs the marriage contract together with witnesses. The husband later takes the marriage contract to court to get it stamped.
