Bahrain House of Representatives approved bill amending certain provisions of Court of Cassation Law, which aims to unify the grounds for contesting verdicts in both Sunni and Jaafari sects.

The Council of Ministers approved in its regular meeting the amendment of the Court of Cassation Law.

The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ratified the unified Family Law (Personal Status Law), despite being rejected by the Shiite Majority in the country.

Dozens of people took to the streets in different countries across Bahrain on Sunday (July 16, 2017) expressing their refusal to the issuance of family law without the consent of Shiite clerics.

Four senior Shiite clerics in Bahrain issued a statement in which they announced that their opinion regarding the family law won’t change after passing it.

The Bahraini House of Representatives passed on Thursday (July 13, 2017) the unified family law bill in an exceptional session, despite reservations of senior Shiite clerics.

A Bahraini Member of Parliament confirmed that the Unified Family Law, which the government referred to the Parliament, includes clauses that conflict with the Jaafari doctrine.

The Legislative and Legal Affairs’ Parliamentary Committee approved the new Unified Family Law recently referred to it by the government.

The Bahraini Government referred the unified family law to the parliament under an urgent status. The law articles are expected to be discussed next week.

Member of Parliament Majed Al-Majed said that the controversy family law reached the House of Representatives last Wednesday and that it is expected to be referred to the legislative committee in the first session of the House of Representatives after the Eid holiday.

Head of Jaffaira Endowments (Waqf) Sheikh Mohsen Al-Asfour hailed the royal order that stipulates forming a legislative committee to review the unified family law, stating that accomplishing it rapidly is considered a “National Benefit”.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued a Royal Order 24/ 2017 on the formation of a legislative committee to review the family draft law.

Senior Bahraini clerics stressed that they continue to demand constitutional guarantees that protect family law, an issue not yet made available.

Khalid bin Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment, said that the ministry stated that the ministry has begun studying the proposal submitted by the Shura Council to the Cabinet to issue a unified family law in the light of studies based on realistic issues and actual needs and in consultation with the Supreme Judicial Council.

Bahrain’s Shura Council agreed in its session held yesterday on the unified family law, referring it to the Cabinet, which is set to word the bill and then refer it to the Parliament.

Secretary-General of Supreme Council for Women revealed that there are serious endeavors towards making a “unified” family law in Bahrain.

Prominent Shia clerics in Bahrain strongly criticized issuance of personal status law for followers of Shiite sect without approval of Shia religious authority.