BEIRUT: A Justice Ministry committee ruled Monday that a recently executed civil marriage in Lebanon is legal, the lawyer of the couple told The Daily Star.

“The Justice Ministry referred the issue to the Higher Committee for Consultations – a department within the ministry – which ruled that the right to civil marriage is valid,” Talal Husseini said.

Kholoud Succariyeh and Nidal Darwish’s decision to register a civil marriage has reignited the debate over non-religious marriages in the country. Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and the Higher Shiite Council are opposing the right to civil marriage, while President Michel Sleiman and Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri backing it.

Although Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said last month that the Interior Ministry could not approve the marriage, Husseini said the ministry’s approval is now unnecessary.