Riyadh, May 27: Saudi Arabia’s appointed parliament appeared to be leaning towards rejecting a proposed law easing curbs on the marriage of foreign men to Saudi women, with one member saying the law would harm the Gulf country’s interests.
The Shura council debated the draft law for several hours on Monday before sending it back to a special committee to revise some of its articles.
“Opening the door for non-Saudis to marry Saudi women will not be in the country’s interest and will result in negative effects such as an increase in the expatriate labour and a surge in the number of foreign men seeking to marry Saudi women just to obtain the Saudi citizenship and improve their living standards,” Shura member Talal Bakri told Alriyadh newspaper.
“It could also create problems involving fathers’ escape with their children from the country…I believe this law, in its present form, does not serve the Kingdom’s interests and for this reason, the council (Shura) should not approve it.”
Another member, Hamad Al Qadi, told the Arabic language daily that any proposal to ease restrictions on such marriages should be stopped.
“Some foreign men could use the facilities provided to them from their marriage to Saudi women in visa purposes and achieving personal interests,” he said.
Shura member Mohammed Al Naji appeared less adamant towards that law, saying both negative and positive aspects must be considered.
“Our society has several economic and social temptations that make many other nationalities want to have a strong relationship with it and be part of it…we only have to be careful when applying that law,” he said.
Alriyadh said Shura also discussed part of the law regarding the marriage of Saudi men to foreign women, adding that some members proposed that giving exemptions to high level officials should be endorsed by the King.
Conservative Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and the world’s oil superpower, currently has tough laws on mixed marriage but Shura debated last year a bill exempting ministers from such curbs.
The bill, which is still under debate, could include a fine of SR100,000 against Saudis who marry foreign women without permission while they could also be deprived of loans from local public funds and other financial facilities.
In an opinion poll conducted by Aleqitsadia newspaper in late 2010, many Saudis said they are opposed to tough rules on mixed-marriage.
One said such restrictions are against Islamic teachings while another citizen believed it violates human rights and personal freedom.
–Agencies