Syria: Social repercussions of a marriage between a male Druze and a Moslem woman
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 31 August 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SYR32590.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Syria: Social repercussions of a marriage between a male Druze and a Moslem woman, 31 August 1999, SYR32590.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad796b.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports on the social repercussions of a marriage between a Druze man and a Moslem woman could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to two specialists on Syria, civil status laws are under the control of the religious establishment of each religious community in Syria (16 Aug. 1999; 17 Aug. 1999). Civil marriages are not performed in Syria and the couple would have to marry in Cyprus or in Europe, and then officially register the marriage certificate with the Ministry of the Interior in Damascus. Once registered, the marriage becomes legal. A couple composed of a Druze husband and a Moslem wife would not be mistreated, harassed or jailed by the State if residing in Syria. The Syrian authorities recognize the Druze as Muslims. Whether there would be negative social and family repercussions depends to what extent the families are religious and conservative. The two specialists could not speculate on this question.
The two specialists are: a researcher who has recently completed a book on the Syrian opposition to be published in the Spring 2000 and who has travelled regularly to Syria; a sociologist with the Sitftung Wissenschaft Und Politik, a research institute on international relations in Ebenhausen, Germany. The sociologist travels to Syria regularly for his research.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Researcher, specialist on Syria and author of a forthcoming book on Syria, Paris, France. 16 August 1999. Telephone interview.
Sociologist, Sitftung Wissenschaft Und Politik, Ebenhausen, Germany. 17 August 1998. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources. Internet, WNC, IMD, Lexis-Nexis.
