Iraquis Need Permission To Marry Foreigners

Marrying a foreigner in Iraq requires a ring, a vow - and now, permission from Saddam Hussein’s government.

Iraq’s highest court has ruled that Iraqis who want to marry foreigners must get security clearance from the government first, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Wednesday.

Otherwise, they face undisclosed punishment and a nullification of their marriage, the London-based newspaper said, quoting a government decree published in Iraqi media.

Before the Court of Cassation’s ruling, only officers and veteran servicemen in the army and security forces were required to get clearance before marrying. Iraqis married to foreigners are banned from diplomatic and senior government jobs.