Sharia Court confirms paternity of three children

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Three children have been officially recognised as legitimate by a Sharia Court, following a dispute over paternity that also saw a claim for the eldest child rejected due to legal limitations.

The ruling, delivered yesterday, addressed a case brought by a woman against her estranged husband, represented by lawyer Jassim Al Issa.

Two government bodies — Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) and the Information and eGovernment Authority — were named in the proceedings, with the State Cases Authority acting on their behalf.

The court ruled that the three younger children were born within a valid marriage, established by a contract dated 10 February 2018.

However, the eldest child was found not to meet the legal conditions for paternity, as she was born less than six lunar months after the marriage.

Legal recourse

The woman claimed her husband had failed to apply for official documents for the children, forcing her to seek legal recourse.

She submitted evidence, including a copy of the marriage contract, four birth notifications, and other supporting documents.

The court based its decision on Islamic principles and provisions of Bahraini family law.

Article 68 of the Family Code permits the establishment of paternity through a valid marriage, acknowledgment, or clear evidence, while Article 71 requires a minimum gestation period of six lunar months. Article 72 outlines additional legal grounds for confirming paternity.