“Documents”…Sanaa.. Decision to distribute “Sharia scholars” to courts sparks widespread controversy

Yemen

Yamanat – Sanaa

The head of the Judicial Inspection Authority of the Sanaa Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Marzan Al-Mahaqri, issued a ruling that sparked controversy in Yemen’s judicial and legal circles.

In accordance with Resolution No. (48) of 1447 AH, issued on November 5, 2025, graduates of the first Sharia Scholars Qualification Course were distributed to a number of courts for training.

The decision provided for the distribution of 83 trainees to several courts in nine governorates, the majority of which were intended for the courts of the capital secretariat and the governorates of Sanaa and Saada.

The decision sparked widespread controversy, as a number of judges and lawyers criticized it, saying that so-called “Sharia scholars” are not fit to work in the justice system, since it relies on multi-jurisdictional laws that require precise legal knowledge and specialized academic qualifications, not just training courses.

Yemen