A Comparative Legal Study of the Marriage with an Adopted Child in Iran, UK and Germany

Adoption is a legal institution by which a child with no family is placed under the care and support of a family. In this regard, the adopters (or the single adopter) carry all responsibilities of the natural parents towards the child, and a parent-child-relationship will be created between them. Freedom of marriage is one of the fundamental principles of human rights. Nevertheless, today, the prohibition of consanguineous marriage is also a universal principle. In some societies, religions and various legal systems, there are, in respect of different kinship hierarchies, prohibited kinship degrees with whom a matrimonial relationship is forbidden. The “Law on the Protection of Children without a Guardian or with an Unworthy Guardian”, which was passed 2013, prohibits marriage between adopters adoptees during the custody period and thereafter, but allows it if the competent court finds out that the best interest of the child so requires. In the absence of an Islamic legal prohibition, there have been cases of marriage with an adoptee. This kind of marriage is now, at least, dependent on court’s permission based on the best interests of the child. On the other hand, it is forbidden for adopters to marry the adoptee in England and Germany, two countries whose laws are going to be analyzed in this study. In this regard, this article seeks to explain the legal status of three countries, i.e. Iran, England, and Germany, with a focus on the principle of the best interest of the child and the freedom of marriage. Although the conditional ban on marriage in Iran's legal system and its prohibition in two other countries indicate a common concern of the Iranian legislature with the above mentioned countries, it seems that the principle of freedom of marriage continues to be of particular importance and, therefore, has its impact on this ban.