The Role of the Palestinian Sharia Judiciary in Protecting the Rights of Children in Custody
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.132.2026.1722Keywords:
child custody, Sharia judiciary, Palestinian law, best interests of the child, child rights, judicial practiceAbstract
This study examines the role of the Palestinian Sharia judiciary in protecting the rights of children in custody disputes, with a focus on judicial practice, statutory provisions, and international child rights standards. Child custody is recognized as a fundamental mechanism for ensuring the physical, psychological, and moral well-being of children, grounded both in Islamic jurisprudence and international law, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989). The Palestinian legal framework governing custody comprises the Personal Status Law No. 61 of 1976 and the Palestinian Child Law No. 7 of 2004, enforced through Sharia courts, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over family and personal status matters. Using doctrinal legal analysis, judicial ruling review, and comparative assessment with international standards, the study evaluates the extent to which Sharia courts prioritize the best interests of the child. Findings indicate that while the judiciary formally recognizes child welfare, rigid statutory provisions such as gender-based custody age limits and automatic loss of custody upon maternal remarriage constrain effective application of child-centered principles. Moreover, weak enforcement mechanisms limit the practical impact of judicial decisions. The study concludes that Palestinian Sharia courts hold significant potential to safeguard children’s rights but require legislative reform, enhanced judicial discretion, and alignment with international norms to realize this potential fully. Recommendations include reforming custody provisions, strengthening enforcement, issuing judicial guidelines, and promoting capacity-building programs for judges.
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