Syariah Court to get wider powers over divorce procedures and child-related orders under proposed law

The proposed changes also set a minimum stay in Singapore for some foreigners marrying here and put the Singapore College of Islamic Studies on a statutory footing.

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SINGAPORE: Muslim couples seeking a divorce could be exempted from some procedural requirements under proposed changes that would also give the Syariah Court clearer powers over child custody and relocation.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) introduced the Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill for first reading in parliament on Tuesday (Oct 6).

The ministry said in a media release that the divorce-related changes are meant to reduce administrative burden and unnecessary acrimony so families can focus on healing.

SIMPLER DIVORCE PROCEDURES

Couples must currently attend the Syariah Court's marriage counselling programme before filing for divorce. Where a marriage cannot be reconciled, the court adjudicates disputes using principles of "therapeutic justice" – an approach that prioritises healing and emotional well-being for everyone involved.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Under the amendments, the court could simplify procedures in certain circumstances. Parties would no longer need to first appoint a hakam or marital conciliator if both agree to end the marriage by talak tafwidh, a form of divorce in which the husband delegates the pronouncement of divorce to the wife. MCCY said the simplified procedure could save parties at least six months in cases where they have agreed to dissolve the marriage by talak tafwidh and have an agreement on all issues. They would also not have to pay the hakam appointment fee and court-order fee, which amounts to S$172 (US$134) per party. The amendment seeks to allow parties with an agreement on all issues to conclude the divorce amicably and at an earlier stage, thereby avoiding undue emotional and psychological hardship that may be caused by having to go through a longer divorce process. The court could also waive the requirement for sworn testimony from two witnesses in suitable fasakh applications. Fasakh refers to the annulment of a Muslim marriage due to harm or a breach of marital obligations. This could apply where the grounds for divorce can be established through other means, such as documentary evidence, or where obtaining two witnesses would be impractical or cause the applicant further hardship. The court would still have to be satisfied that the grounds for divorce are proven and valid under Muslim law.

Under the amendments, the court could simplify procedures in certain circumstances.

Parties would no longer need to first appoint a hakam or marital conciliator if both agree to end the marriage by talak tafwidh, a form of divorce in which the husband delegates the pronouncement of divorce to the wife.

MCCY said the simplified procedure could save parties at least six months in cases where they have agreed to dissolve the marriage by talak tafwidh and have an agreement on all issues.

They would also not have to pay the hakam appointment fee and court-order fee, which amounts to S$172 (US$134) per party.

The amendment seeks to allow parties with an agreement on all issues to conclude the divorce amicably and at an earlier stage, thereby avoiding undue emotional and psychological hardship that may be caused by having to go through a longer divorce process.

The court could also waive the requirement for sworn testimony from two witnesses in suitable fasakh applications. Fasakh refers to the annulment of a Muslim marriage due to harm or a breach of marital obligations.

This could apply where the grounds for divorce can be established through other means, such as documentary evidence, or where obtaining two witnesses would be impractical or cause the applicant further hardship.

The court would still have to be satisfied that the grounds for divorce are proven and valid under Muslim law.

The Syariah Court would also be able to deal with the consequences of a Muslim divorce obtained overseas.

If either party is domiciled in Singapore or has lived here for at least three years before applying, the court could make financial orders as well as orders on the custody, care and control of, and access to, children.

Currently, Muslim families who obtain a divorce overseas may have to begin separate proceedings in the High Court or Family Justice Courts. MCCY said the change is expected to save time and costs by allowing eligible families to start proceedings at the Syariah Court instead.

Existing safeguards would remain. Applicants would first need the court's permission, and the court would consider factors including whether Singapore is the appropriate jurisdiction to hear the case.

CHILD WELFARE AND RELOCATION

The Bill also seeks to make clear that a child's welfare is the Syariah Court’s “paramount consideration” in matters involving children, formalising existing court practice.

The court would also be empowered to make orders allowing or preventing a child under a custody, care or control order from being relocated outside Singapore.

For instance, it could allow a child to move overseas with a parent or stop a parent from taking the child out of the country.

MCCY said the change responds to growing demand from transnational marriages and overseas work relocations. It is also meant to give Muslim families legal protections under Muslim law similar to those available under relevant provisions of the Women's Charter.

The ministry said the amendments build on earlier changes to the Muslim divorce process: mandatory marriage counselling in 2018, court therapeutic specialists in 2022 and the Child Representative Scheme in 2023. A co-mediation pilot began in 2025.

The Bill would also introduce a minimum period of physical presence in Singapore before a Muslim marriage application can be made, when at least one party is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident.

This is to ensure foreigners marrying here have an established presence or a meaningful connection to the country, MCCY said.

OVERSIGHT OF ISLAMIC STUDIES COLLEGE

The Bill would formalise governance of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies , making oversight of the college a statutory function of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

The college would be legally recognised and given powers to award degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs would oversee selected administrative and financial matters, including access to the college's financial records, appointments to its board of governors and approval of key decisions such as constitutional changes.

The college, Singapore's first Islamic college , is expected to welcome its first cohort in 2028.

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拟议的修改还规定了部分在新加坡结婚的外国人的最低居住期限，并使新加坡伊斯兰研究学院获得法定地位。

一对结婚戒指和一把木槌。（图片：iStock）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：根据拟议的改革，寻求离婚的穆斯林夫妇可以免除一些程序要求，同时伊斯兰教法庭在子女监护权和搬迁方面也将拥有更明确的权力。

文化、社区及青年部（MCCY）于周二（10月6日）向国会提交了《穆斯林法律管理（修正）法案》进行一读。

该部门在一份新闻稿中表示，与离婚相关的改革旨在减轻行政负担和不必要的争吵，以便家庭能够专注于疗愈。

更简化的离婚程序

目前，夫妻双方必须先参加伊斯兰教法庭的婚姻咨询课程才能提出离婚申请。如果婚姻无法挽回，法庭将运用“治疗性司法”原则来裁决纠纷——这种方法优先考虑所有相关人员的疗愈和情感健康。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 根据修正案，法院可以在特定情况下简化程序。如果双方同意通过“塔拉克·塔夫维德”（talak tafwidh，一种丈夫将离婚宣告权委托给妻子的离婚方式）结束婚姻，则不再需要先指定婚姻调解员（hakam）。文化、社区及青年部（MCCY）表示，如果双方同意通过“塔拉克·塔夫维德”解除婚姻关系并就所有问题达成一致，简化后的程序至少可以节省六个月的时间。他们也不必支付婚姻调解员的指定费和法院命令费，每方共计172新元（134美元）。该修正案旨在允许就所有问题达成一致的当事人友好地尽早完成离婚，从而避免因漫长的离婚程序而造成的过度情感和心理痛苦。法院还可以在合适的法萨赫（Fasakh）申请中豁免两名证人宣誓作证的要求。法萨赫是指因婚姻关系破裂或违反婚姻义务而宣告婚姻无效。如果离婚理由可以通过其他方式（例如书面证据）得到证实，或者获取两名证人证词不切实际或会给申请人造成进一步困难，则可适用此规定。法院仍需确信离婚理由已得到证实，并符合伊斯兰教法。

根据这些修正案，法院可以在某些情况下简化程序。

如果双方同意通过离婚法（talak tafwidh）结束婚姻，则双方不再需要先指定婚姻调解员（hakam）。离婚法是一种由丈夫将离婚宣告权委托给妻子的离婚形式。

文化、社区及青年部表示，简化的程序可以为双方节省至少六个月的时间，前提是他们已同意通过离婚协议（talak tafwidh）解除婚姻关系，并就所有问题达成一致。

他们也不必支付仲裁员委任费和法院命令费，每方共计 172 新元（134 美元）。

该修正案旨在允许就所有问题达成一致的当事人友好地、尽早地结束离婚，从而避免因不得不经历较长的离婚程序而造成的过度情感和心理痛苦。

在符合条件的法萨赫（Fasakh）申请中，法院还可以免除两名证人宣誓作证的要求。法萨赫指的是因婚姻关系破裂或违反婚姻义务而宣告穆斯林婚姻无效。

如果可以通过其他方式（例如书面证据）确定离婚理由，或者如果获得两名证人是不切实际的，或者会给申请人造成进一步的困难，则可适用此规定。

法院仍需确信离婚理由符合伊斯兰教法，且有效。

伊斯兰教法庭还可以处理在海外获得的穆斯林离婚的后果。

如果任何一方在新加坡有住所，或者在申请前已在新加坡居住至少三年，法院可以作出财务命令，以及关于子女的监护、照顾和控制以及探视权的命令。

目前，在海外离婚的穆斯林家庭可能需要分别在高等法院或家事法庭提起诉讼。文化、社区及青年部表示，这项改革预计将节省时间和费用，使符合条件的家庭可以直接在伊斯兰教法庭提起诉讼。

现有的保障措施将继续有效。申请人首先需要获得法院的许可，法院将考虑包括新加坡是否是审理该案件的适当管辖地在内的各种因素。

儿童福利和搬迁

该法案还力求明确，在涉及儿童的事项中，儿童的福祉是伊斯兰教法庭的“首要考虑因素”，从而使现有的法庭做法正式化。

法院还有权下令允许或阻止根据监护令、照管令或控制令将儿童迁往新加坡境外。

例如，它可以允许孩子随父母移居海外，或者阻止父母将孩子带出国。

文化、社区及青年部表示，此项改革旨在应对跨国婚姻和海外工作调动日益增长的需求，同时也旨在为穆斯林家庭提供与《妇女宪章》相关条款类似的、受伊斯兰教法保护的法律保障。

该部表示，这些修正案建立在之前对穆斯林离婚程序的改革之上：2018 年强制婚姻咨询，2022 年引入法院治疗专家，2023 年推行儿童代表制度。共同调解试点项目将于 2025 年启动。

该法案还将规定，如果至少一方既不是新加坡公民也不是永久居民，则穆斯林婚姻申请必须在新加坡实际居住至少一段时间后才能提出。

文化、社区及青年部表示，此举旨在确保在越南结婚的外国人与该国有稳定的关系或有意义的联系。

伊斯兰研究学院的监管

该法案将规范新加坡伊斯兰研究学院的管理，使对该学院的监督成为新加坡伊斯兰宗教理事会（MUIS）的法定职能。

该学院将获得法律认可，并被赋予授予学位、文凭和证书的权力。

负责穆斯林事务的部长将监督部分行政和财务事项，包括查阅学院的财务记录、任命理事会成员以及批准宪法修改等关键决策。

这所学院是新加坡第一所伊斯兰学院，预计将于 2028 年迎来首批学生。

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