Sharia courts resolving more files than they receive, leaving only 1,533 cases pending

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Numbers from Justice Ministry show Sharia courts are closing more cases than they take on, with only 1,533 files still pending and divorces making up six per cent of marriages since the current legislative term began.

In a written reply to MP Jalal Kadhem, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf said Sharia courts at all levels recorded a clearance rate of 103 per cent in 2024, meaning more cases were concluded than lodged.

The average duration of a case across all courts and tiers last year was put at 3.3 months.

The ministry said it aims to support the judicial authority in delivering quick and accessible justice, while preserving family ties and making greater use of technology in court procedures.

Compulsory step

It pointed out that family reconciliation has become a compulsory step before Sharia cases reach the bench, under Decree-Law 22 of 2015 amending Provisions of Procedures before Sharia Courts Law.

From the start of the legislative term to date, Sharia courts have registered 13,801 marriage contracts.

Of these, 10,139 were between Bahraini men and Bahraini women, 1,729 between Bahraini men and non-Bahraini women, 1,140 between Bahraini women and non-Bahraini men, and 793 between non-Bahraini spouses on both sides.

Husbands

By age group, most husbands were aged between 25 and 35, followed by those in the 18–25 bracket.

Smaller numbers of marriage contracts involved men aged 35–45, and a further group aged over 45.

The ministry also set out figures for the Family Reconciliation Office, which seeks to settle disputes before they turn into full court cases.

It said the office dealt with 911 cases in 2023, 1,164 in 2024 and 859 so far in 2025, bringing the total to 2,934.

Over the same period, 4,336 files were referred on to the courts after no settlement was reached.

Reconciliation success

The reconciliation success rate has edged up year on year, rising from 38 per cent in 2023 to 41 per cent in 2024 and 43 per cent so far this year, giving an overall rate of around 40 per cent.

On divorce, the ministry recorded 2,030 cases in 2023, 2,073 in 2024 and 1,504 in 2025 to date, a total of 5,607 cases since the start of the current legislative term.

Of these, 3,969 involved Bahraini couples, 909 involved Bahraini men married to non-Bahraini women, 396 involved Bahraini women married to non-Bahraini men, and 333 were between non-Bahraini spouses.

Marriage contracts

The ministry said the 5,607 divorces represent six per cent of the total marriage contracts registered over the same period.

The average age of men in divorce cases was given as 40, while the average age of women was 34.

MP Kadhem had asked for a full breakdown of pending Sharia cases, marriage and divorce statistics by type, nationality and age group, along with data on the work and success rate of the Family Reconciliation Office.

The ministry said it hoped the figures supplied would meet Parliament’s request and thanked MPs for their interest in issues touching family and social stability.