The Palestinian Authority applies the law to raise the age of marriage at the end of the year

Awad al-Rajoub - Hebron

At the end of this month, the Palestinians will not be able to perform marriage contracts for those under the age of 18 after they were contracting them at the age of 15 for both parties to the contract.

Palestinian Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash issued a circular to the Palestinian Shari'a Courts to implement the decision of a law issued by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to set the marriage age for both parties in 18 solar years.

The judge’s circular to Sharia court judges stated the necessity of implementing the decision of the law issued on December 29.

In its second article, "the decision of the law amending the legislation governing personal status in the state of Palestine" requires that marriage be a reasonable party and that each be 18 solar years.

The decision was passed by law on the Palestinian President last November 3, and it was published in the Palestinian Factbook (the Official Gazette) on the 28th of the same month.

The decision permits a law for the competent court in special cases, and if marriage is a necessity required by the interests of both parties, it authorizes the marriage of those who have not completed 18 solar years with the approval of the judge of Palestine judges or the religious references of other sects.

With regard to special exceptional cases, the judge judge requests, in the book addressed to the judges of the courts, "to verify the legal, legal and social justifications, and to establish a case control" and raise it to him "to study it and conduct the legal and legal requirements duly."

While feminist NGOs welcomed the new decision, Islamist figures criticized it, saying it was better to conduct an in-depth study of the Palestinian situation before making the decision to raise the age of marriage.

The Islamic Liberation Party, in particular, is leading a broad campaign against raising the age of marriage, considering the decision as part of the Palestinian Authority’s measures to implement the CEDAW agreement, warning of negative repercussions, the dismantling of the family and the sabotage of younger generations.