Qatar took yet another historic step yesterday with the decision to set up a special court for the Shi’ite sect, further liberalising its judicial system. Qatar is the second GCC country after Bahrain to have liberalised its Islamic personal law.
Both Qataris and expatriates will be eligible to approach the proposed court to seek resolution of marital, family and inheritance-related disputes in accordance with the (Shi’ite) Jafria school of thought. Personal, marital and inheritance-related disputes of Shi’ites were hitherto resolved as per the Sunni personal law.
The Supreme Judicial Council met here yesterday and issued several important decisions. One of them was to set up a special court that would hear and settle marital, family and inheritance-linked disputes of Shi’tes according to the Jafria jurisprudence.
The Council has also decided to set up a special department that would examine and register official documents of personal and family affairs of the members of the Shi’ite sect.
The Supreme Judicial Council met for the first time this year presided over by Mubarak Khalifa Al Assiri, its chairman. He also heads the Cassation Court, Qatar’s highest court. Present was the council’s Deputy Chairman Dr Thaqueel bin Thayer Al Shummari and members, who are all judges heading the various courts. Established last year, the Council is responsible for overseeing Qatar’s judicial system and the various courts.
Yesterday’s decisions were officially issued by the secretary-general of the Council, Mohamed Abdullah Al Mohannadi. The Council named three judges who would head the special court for Shi’ites. They are Mustafa Mohamed Ibrahim, Al Hadi Abbas Abdullah and Dr Nasser Kazim Zuair.
Dr Zuair has been additionally appointed head of the department that would examine and register official documents related to personal and family affairs of the members of the Shi’ite sect.
The Council also issued a decision to set up a special division at the lower court that would hear criminal cases, including murder and homicide. Such cases were earlier heard by the Shariah Court, which was merged with parallel courts after the new judicial system was introduced in the country late last year.