By MOHAMMED AL A' ALI, Posted on » Wednesday, April 08, 2009
A FAMILY Law for the Sunni community could soon be approved, with MPs yesterday passing a version of the bill to parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee for revision.
However, it will only apply to Sunnis since Shi'ite MPs opposed an earlier version following complaints from their religious leaders.
The government referred the new draft to parliament on Sunday, after withdrawing the original on January 13 following opposition from Shi'ite clergymen.
Opponents claimed only senior clerics should have the power to come up with such a law, with six senior religious leaders suggesting Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani should draft it from his home in Iraq.
Critics were backed by all 17 MPs from the Al Wefaq bloc, regarded as the Shi'ite community's voice in parliament.
The bloc had threatened to veto the original bill if not withdrawn.
Domestic disputes are resolved in Sharia courts, with separate systems for the Sunnis and Shias.
Sharia judges base verdicts on their interpretation of Islam, but a Family Law would standardise procedures.
Women's rights activists have long campaigned for the law, saying the existing system fosters discrimination against women.
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