WHEREAS, pursuant to Sub-Article (5) of Article 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, disputes arising in relation to marriage, personal and family rights are to be adjudicated in accordance with religious or customary laws, with the consent of the parties thereof;

WHEREAS, the House of Peoples’ Representatives and State Councils are empowered, under Sub Article (5) of Article 78 of the Constitution, to establish, as necessary, religious and customary courts that exercise judicial functions on the basis of cultural and religious laws, in cases where such courts are not in existence;

WHEREAS, Courts of Sharia, which have been in existence for more than half a century and been left to remain without any structural changes, need to be consolidated pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution that religious and customary courts, which functioned and had state recognition prior to the adoption of the Constitution, may be organized anew, on the basis of recognition accorded to them by the Constitution;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55 (1) of the Constitution, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: