Saudi Arabia’s cabinet members could become the first citizens in the world’s dominant oil power to be exempted from tough curbs on mixed marriage despite widespread public opposition, according to local newspapers.
The Gulf Kingdom’s Shura council (appointed parliament) is debating the draft law which must be ratified by King Abdullah before it is enforced, they said.
The law could include a fine of SR100,000 against Saudis who have foreign spouses while they could also be deprived of loans from local public funds and other financial facilities, the paper reported.
“Cabinet ministers are expected to be exempted from these new rules after the Ministry of Finance expressed reservations about including ministers in the new system which is still under debate by Shura,” Alawtan daily said.
“The Ministry of Finance explained to Shura that its reservation is based on the fact that the ministers, given their leading posts in the country, can realize the negative effects of mixed marriage and that their heavy workload makes marriage at the bottom of their priorities…it made clear that for this reason, their marriage should not be considered a phenomenon that has to be tackled.”
The Ministry also recommended that the new rules do not include any fine on the grounds that this fine would not deter those who wed persons they love or seek marriage of convenience. “This means the fine will not be feasible,” it said.
Newspapers said the draft law is also facing reservations from the country’s Human Rights Commission, which is demanding the cancellation of the proposal to deprive those involved in mixed marriage from government loans because such a move will also affect the relatives of the spouse.
“The Shura agreed to hold further discussions on the draft law after it receives proposals for amendments from all other competent parties,” the paper said.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and largest Arab economy, already enforces controls governing the marriage of Saudis with foreigners but the new law debated by the parliament is expected to introduce stiffer regulations.
Newspapers said the new law could include a fine of up to SR100,000 (Dh99,000) and other penalties and must be ratified by the monarch after it is approved by Shura.
In an opinion poll conducted by Aleqitsadia newspaper last month, many Saudis said they are opposed to such rules. One said they are against Islamic teachings while another citizen said it violates human rights and personal freedom.
“The new rules are needed because marriage of Saudis to foreign spouses is affecting the local society…there should be laws to regulate such marriages because those which violate such rules and conditions are leading to bad consequences and effects on the children and families,” the paper said.
Answers by Saudis surveyed by the paper showed they are split on mixed-marriage as some of them appeared to be strictly against the new rules.
While some of them said they believed mixed marriage leads to family trouble and end up in divorce, others said the new laws encroach on personal liberties.
“Marriage is a personal affair and a personal freedom…..why putting obstacles for halal (allowed under Islam) and promoting haram (prohibited)…,” said a Saudi national, who identified himself as only Aldoumi.
“I think blocking mixed marriage on the basis of nationality is wrong…it should be on the basis of religion and ethics,” said another one, identified as Abdullah Balhakeem. “If a foreign spouse enjoys good conduct, the marriage in this case should not be stopped…having a good foreign spouse is not a shame.”
Another Saudi sounded sarcastic. “Man reached moon and we here are still haggling about the marriage of Saudis to non-Saudis,” Khaled said.
“What has the nationality to do with what God the Almighty has sanctioned,” said another respondent, who was not identified. “I believe that good conduct, ethics, and religion should be the criteria for marriage not nationality.”