RIYADH: Ministry of Justice punished 16 marriage officiants over the past three months for violation of rules, with suspension of licenses of 14 of them, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, violations included issuing a marriage contract between a foreigner to a Saudi woman using an unofficial form, issuing a marriage contract without obtaining sponsorship from the father and with no clarification as to why the sponsorship went to someone else, failure to maintain records and making corrections on forms without providing necessary marriage information.

The ministry emphasized the need for marriage officiants to abide by its instructions, which are issued to the General Administration of Marriage Officiants in the Kingdom.

While the number of certified legal officiants in the Kingdom has reached 6,130, a report issued by the General Administration of Marriage Officiants reveals that they have issued licenses to 69 between the months of Rajab and Ramadan 1436 AH, and renewed 245 licenses.

The number of marriage officiants in the Kingdom is steadily increasing, according to the general administration. The ministry is keen on issuing and renewing licenses of applicants in order to facilitate the certification of marriage contracts.

Applications are reviewed by a specialized committees which puts forward its recommendations for approval.

Citizens looking to obtain a marriage contract can search for officiants on the Ministry of Justice’s website by including their city and neighborhood. The names and mobile numbers of officiants will then be made available.

As for the requirements for officiants to obtain a license, the applicant must have a university degree in Shariah, must have good moral behavior, must provide two recommendations from well-known or high ranking officials in Sharia, and must be at least 25 years of age.