Justice Minister Denies Imposing EGP 20,000 on New Marriages

Omar Marawan, Minister of Justice, said, during televised statements with Sada Al-Balad, that the draft personal status law includes new points and provisions that were not present in the previous law, indicating that the law aims to support the Egyptian family.

"I say to the citizens that there must be trust in officials, there is nothing that can be done except for the benefit of the people, and the opposing party is spreading lies. Do not submit to any incorrect rumors, the state is honest and moving in the right direction, and it works only for your benefit," minister of justice added.

Marawan pointed out that the personal status law will be referred to a societal dialogue before parliament, stressing that the law is based on scientific foundations and will satisfy most families, or newly weds.

"Regarding the rumors that circulated in the past period about marriage fees reaching EGP 20,000, the Minister of Justice said that whoever spread these rumors is not an authorized officer, but rather a person who called himself an authorized assistant, who was obtaining marriage documents from another authorized official, and the authorized official was suspended, and this assistant was referred To the Public Prosecution Office."

The Minister of Justice added that premarital screening is important, in order for the two parties to be married to avoid getting into trouble after the wedding.

"Under the current law, conducting premarital tests is compulsory, but we will transform it from a fictitious situation into a real one, while emphasizing the confidentiality of the results of the analyzes," he said, adding that in the event of negative results of medical tests, such as infertility, for example, there is no compulsion not to complete the marriage, but the matter is optional according to the desire of the spouses."

"The value of the medical analyzes will be very small amount, and the marriage fund fees have not yet been determined, yet, it will be simple, and will not be an obstacle to any social level. There are scholars who study all cases to accurately determine everything related to marriage."

The Minister of Justice continued: "We are preparing a complete project for personal status, and with regard to documenting divorce, there is nothing contradictory to Sharia. We organize divorce so that it takes place in an official manner, like marriage. Documenting divorce is regulation."

He pointed out that the family fund aims to help the family in critical cases that it may face suddenly, such as the failure of the party obligated to alimony. "The fund aims here to preserve the family, pointing out that the new law restricts customary marriage, as it will not provide any possibility to prove anything."