PRESS RELEASE NO EMBARGO
25 AUGUST 2023
MARRIAGE BILL 2022: AL JAMA-AH supports calls for Muslims to submit comments on clauses in the bill which are harmful:
Al Jama-ah Party says it takes note of the Ministerial Consultative Dialogue on the Marriage Bill 2022 between Sheikh Dr Abduraouf (Muslim Judicial Council: Head of Legal Department) and the Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi which was held on 24 August 2023.
The day-long Ministerial Dialogue to discuss the Marriage Bill was also attended by other stakeholders.
The party has welcomed the calls from several Muslim religious bodies and organisations urging Muslims to submit their comments on clauses in the Marriage Bill 2022 which are seen as harmful to society.
Al Jama-ah says it supports the calls made by both the Jamiat ul Ulema in KwaZulu-Natal and the Wifaqul ‘Ulama (SA), for Muslims and Muslim organisations to make comments on the Bill.
The comments will be in a third draft of the Bill which will be sent for public participation in all provinces. “We call on the public to attend these public sessions so they can raise their concerns on the harmful clauses in the Bill,” says Al Jama-ah’s Member of Parliament, Hon Ganief Hendricks.
In the meantime, Al Jama-ah has submitted a Private Members Bill for a Muslim Personal Law (MPL) tribunal to be managed by a Bench of Qadis (Muslim Jurists). Amendments to the Arbitration Act will assist each Ulema body to have its own MPL tribunal. “This will keep marital disputes out of the South African courts. Muslim spouses in disputes who choose to go to court, will be turning their backs on the Shariah,” says Hendricks.
The deadline to submit comments on the Bill is on 31 August 2023.
Comments on the bill can be emailed to: [email protected] / [email protected]
For further media enquiries contact National Spokesperson:
Adv. Shameemah Salie Cell: 084 423 0476
Ms Nisa Siers: National Marketing and Communication Manager Cell: 082 613 1917