On October 16, 1971, the parties to this petition, who are Lebanese Christians and neither of them a citizen of the Republic, went through a civil ceremony of marriage at the District Office Nicosia. 10 15 20 25 Upon a petition by the husband for a declaration that that • ceremony did not create the status of husband and wife between the parlies because they were members of a religiousgroup
the meaning of Article 111 of the Constitution and therefore matters relating to marriage between them were governed by ecclesiastical law: Held, dismissing the petition, that for the petition to succeed the petitioner must establish that hewas a member of a "religious group"
.3 of the Constitution; that the scope of that provision is, in terms, limited to persons who are citizens of_the Republic and, further, "ordinarily resident in Cyprus"; that though counsel argued that the words "ordinarily resident in Cyprus" do not exclude his client because "the definition is concerned only with the formation of a group", there is no warrant for it in the wording of the provision in question; that it is perfectly clear thattheparties were at liberty tocontract 627 Achcar v.Saad
the meaning of Art.111 of the Constitution and therefore matters relating to marriage between them are 20 governed by ecclesiastical law. To succeed, Counsel for the petitioner must establish that his client was a member of a "religious group"
Now the scope of that provision is, in terms, limited to persons who are citizens of the Republic and, further, 25 "ordinarily resident in Cyprus". Counsel argued that the words "ordinarily resident in Cyprus" do not excludehisclient because, to use his own words, "the definition is concerned only with the formation of group". Of this it is enough to say that there is no warrant for it in the wording of the provision in question, 30 and it isperfectly clear that the parties wereat liberty to contract a civil marriage in this country. For these reasons the petition is dismissed. Petition dismissed. 628 10
AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.