ABU DHABI // A couple who had a child out of wedlock have been ordered by a court to get married.
Moroccan M H and Emirati N A were arrested after the Moroccan gave birth in a hospital.
They told the Criminal Court they were married “under Sharia terms” but said the legal procedures for their official marriage had not yet been finalised.
“You want to go to the notary public and get married now?” Chief Justice Sayed Abdul Baseer asked.
“I don’t mind,” the Emirati replied.
The judge asked the Emirati about his occupation. He said he had worked in property but lost his job after being arrested.
“I will bail you both out, go get married and come back to me,” said the judge.
The man replied that he was also being held in custody over a financial case, so granting bail in this case would not get him out of jail.
“If you can issue an order to take me from prison to the notary public to get married, that would work,” he told the judge, requesting that the woman be bailed out. The baby was with its mother in jail, he told the court.
“You were previously married and you have a financial case against you. How were you planning on getting married again? How will you feed her?” the judge asked.
“It is okay, matters are all good,” the man replied.
The judge granted his requests and adjourned the case to November 18.
hdajani@thenational.ae
