Certain Authorities of Religious Minorities in Iran’s Act and the Effects of Their Decisions

One the innovations in the new act of family support is observed in article 4 for the authorities of religious minorities. Concerning the competence of these authorities and their relationships with the judicial courts, legislators deny the competence of the general courts in hearing the minority affairs based on their religious commonalities and certain rules and habits. Moreover, given that these authorities are competent to hear the personal status and non-litigious affairs of the religious minorities and are legally recognized to do so, they can be, to some extent, considered as an exceptional part of the judicial judgment institution. As a result, their decisions are valid in the courts and are ratified and enforced if they are compatible with the public order and morality.