The Ministry of Justice is still studying a proposal to release the health and legal history of male and female Saudi marriage applicants to their potential partners, a senior ministry official told local media recently.

Nasser Al-Oud, adviser to the Minister of Justice, said the project has just started.

Once implemented, the program would, for example, allow a Saudi woman to determine whether her suitor has lawsuits pending against him or other wives, he said.

“The ministry does not want to work alone on this project. Other ministries are welcome to join in,” he said.

Al-Oud said the plan is to reduce divorce rates in the country, which have over the last five years stayed between 18 and 22 percent.

The ministry’s proposal reportedly drew flak earlier this year from several lawyers who argued that the release of this information without permission contravened the rights of individuals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has just completed drawing up its training program for young people who want to get married under its “Ta’heel” initiative.