DUSHANBE, January 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- An amendment to the Family Code may cause a great deal of confusion in the issue of marriages between Tajik nationals and citizens of other countries or stateless persons, Muhiddin Kabiri, member of Tajik parliament’s lower house also leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), said.

“The amendment authors say it is aimed, first of all, at protecting rights of Tajik women marrying foreign nationals or stateless persons, but they did not take in account wishes of our nationals living abroad and wanting to create family there,” said Kabiri, “How they will be able to ensure compliance with the Family Code if married couples travel abroad to live?”

“I am sure this amendment will be an impediment to marriages between Tajik nationals and foreigners and the number of such marriages will sharply decrease,” MP noted.

According to him, it is necessary to thoroughly study all advantages and disadvantages of the amendment and take final decision only after deep analysis.

We will recall that the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) on January 26 endorsed the amendment to the country’s Family Code that tighten requirements for Tajik/non-Tajik marriages and make it more difficult for foreigners to marriage Tajik women.

The amendment tightens to certain extent requirements for Tajik nationals’ marriages with foreign citizens and stateless persons.  Thus, foreign citizen or stateless person cannot enter into a marriage with Tajik woman without marital agreement, without one year of Tajik residency, and without accepting commitment to provide future wife and children with home registered in their name.