Information Note on the Court’s case-law 44

July 2002

Selim v. Cyprus - 47293/99

Judgment 16.7.2002 [Section IV]

Article 12

Marry

Impossibility for Muslim Turkish Cypriot to contract civil marriage: friendly settlement

The applicant, a Cypriot national of Turkish origin, wished to marry a Romanian national. He was informed by the Cypriot authorities that the Marriage Law did not prov ide the possibility for a Turkish Cypriot professing the Muslim faith to contract a civil marriage. As a result, the applicant had to marry in Romania.

The parties have reached a friendly settlement providing for payment to the applicant of 5,080 Cypriot p ounds by way of just satisfaction and 3,000 Cypriot pounds plus VAT by way of legal costs. Furthermore, Law 46(I)/2002, enacted in April 2002, extended the application of the Marriage Law to the members of the Turkish community, with the effect that they c an now contract civil marriage under the provisions of the Marriage Law. Finally, a bill for a new Civil Marriage Law which will apply to all Cypriots without distinction of origin has been laid before Parliament.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Hum an Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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