polygamy in tunisia
In his view, the controversy illustrates "a social hypocrisy", because "we agree to discuss these phenomena in private, among friends, but we get indignant and angry when they are mentioned in public". He abolished polygamy, prohibited rejection, and introduced judicial divorce. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy remains a problem in Tunisia. Rights group Aswat Nissa ("Women's Voices") said polygamy and customary marriage were "forms of violence against women" and that discussing them "normalises a culture of impunity". Data-driven analysis of latest market trends. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Jouil added that many Tunisians happily discuss such issues in private but are angered when they are aired in public -- where commentators are "instrumentalising" the issue for political gain. Marriage may occur between: Foreign non-Muslim men and Tunisian Muslim women provided the man converts. Inizia a scrivere il termine ricerca qua sopra e premi invio per iniziare la ricerca. Al-Monitor.com is a trusted and award-winning independent source of Middle East news and analysis, founded in 2012. Issued on: 13/04/2022 - 04:38. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. This places Tunisia as one of the worst divorce centres in the Arab world. For the LDP, "these crimes" (polygamy and customary marriage, editor's note), punishable by one year's imprisonment, have reappeared in Tunisian society since the Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha came to power in 2011. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. The strongly secular Free Destourian Party (PDL) founded by one-time members of Ben Ali's ruling party has been one of the loudest voices against "Baraa", saying that "putting these questions back on the table is out of the question" and an affront to women's dignity. Concise, actionable scenarios and predictions from top regional experts. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. Copyright 2023 SPH Media Limited. These issues, which are not usually discussed, remain taboo subjects, yet they are phenomena that exist in Tunisia, said Foued Ghorbali, another sociologist. The sociologist denounces "a stupid instrumentalisation to gain political points". This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to Sharia law. Polygamy is a taboo issue in Tunisia and a crime punishable by law, under Article 18 of the Personal Status Code. It has been connected with the chaotic state of affairs in the country. The main. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Leave us your comments below! "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. Post-independence leader Habib Bourguiba outlawed polygamy in the family code passed just five months after the country's 1956 independence from France, a piece of legislation that was nothing short of revolutionary in the Arab world at the time. But in one episode, the series' main character, Wannas, declares to his wife and children that he has the right to marry a second woman under Islamic law, which "trumps all other laws". Prioritize your target industries for weekly review: We also offer team plans. He added that he is also calling for a review of all articles of the Personal Status Code a set of laws that stipulate the rights and freedoms of women in Tunisia and not only the article relating to polygamy. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. Can you have 4 wives in Tunisia? In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". Sociologist Mohamed Jouili is reassuring: the series "is a work of dramatic art that does not systematically reflect Tunisian society. It also changed the law so that divorce cases had to go through the courts, meaning a husband could no longer simply declare a marriage over. Djerbi considered calls for protests demanding polygamy to be "a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. A Ramadan TV series dealing with polygamy has sparked a heated debate in Tunisia, an Arab pioneer in women's rights that banned the practice decades ago. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. All rights reserved. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. These include: Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Another activist, Raouf Al-Guizani, described this demand as "electoral begging" aimed at distorting Ennahda. All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. TUNIS: A Ramadan TV series dealing with polygamy has sparked a heated debate in Tunisia, an Arab pioneer in women's rights that banned the practice decades ago. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Only civil marriage is recognised by law. Moreover, the freedom of speech that came with the end of Ben Ali's dictatorship allowed people in favour of such practices to openly say so. A Ramadan TV series dealing with polygamy has sparked a heated debate in Tunisia, an Arab pioneer in women's rights that banned the practice decades ago. Italian firm gears up to restart works on Total's Mozambique gas project, Burkina scraps 1961 military aid pact with France, 'Like a war zone': Greek train survivors recount chaos, Bears freed from illegal bile farm in Vietnam. For example, the first wife has to approve before her husband is allowed to remarry, he said. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Read: Tunisia women recount torture in 'transitional justice' trials. Tunis, Tunisia, differentiates itself with low living costs. Activist Mohammed Nur Musa described the demonstration as a "Satanic idea" which "aims to mobilize supporters of the regime and its partners to distort the Islamic Ennahda movement". In this context, researcher of Islamic civilisation, Sami Braham, wrote that: "Unmarried women who missed a wedding opportunity believe that opening the door to polygamy will enable them to get married." At the request of one spouse citing a specific, recognised ground. Polygamy is expressly prohibited under Tunisian law. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. polygamy is still an issue in . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A number of activists believe the call for polygamy was motivated by political parties in order to target the Islamic Ennahda movement and distort its image before the upcoming elections. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. Tunisia's 2011 revolt, which overthrew Bourguiba's successor Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, brought in a parliamentary system ideologically divided between secularists and Islamist-leaning parties such as Ennahdha. The PDL, a sworn enemy of Ennahdha whose dissolution it is calling for, warns against "an attack on the dignity of women if obscurantist forces are in decision-making positions". "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. From hope to agony, what's left of the Arab Spring? Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". Only civil marriage is recognized by law. Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today. Apr 13, 2022, 11:28 AM SGT. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. A common expectation for African kings in African societies is for African kings to symbolically unify his kingdom and the society through partaking in polygamous marriages with wives from a broad range of clans within the society. post-revolution initiative to cancel all laws that contradict Islamic principles. The practice was permitted in Islam and should be legalized if it deemed in the best interest of society, Elmi said, proposing Tunisias marriage laws be referred to courts for modification, under certain conditions. The main reason polygamy is legal in these countries is because the husband is responsible for providing for all of his wives and their children. It provides tools to debate social issues, "talk about polygamy or orfi marriage" but "in no way threatens the achievements of women", he told AFP. Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Jouil added that many Tunisians happily discuss such issues in private but are angered when they are aired in public -- where commentators are "instrumentalising" the issue for political gain. The new Islamist government has pledged to preserve womens rights, but talk of Tunisian Islamist figures violating the polygamy ban has stirred controversy in the country. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Kurdish-controlled areas criminalize polygamy, "Tunisian women free to marry non-Muslims", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polygamy_in_Tunisia&oldid=1141521187, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 13:37. The "exaggerated reactions against this series aim to make people think that everything related to the Muslim religion is retrograde," Nadia Abdelhak, a 28-year-old civil servant, told AFP. After the rise of Islamist movements following the fall of the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, according to the expert, "religious marriage has spread in academic circles", especially among students who resort to it to live as a couple with religious validation. The 1956 Code prohibits polygamy, makes divorce available to both spouses, gives women the right to manage their own property, and recognizes and protects other family-like rights. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". Almost half of all university students are women. A group of Tunisian women took to social media to call for a protest against polygamy. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. Rights group Aswat Nissa ("Women's Voices") said polygamy and customary marriage were "forms of violence against women" and that discussing them "normalises a culture of impunity". published : 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. According to an international study conducted in December, Tunisia ranked fourth in the Arab world and first in north Africa in the percentage of single women. The Tunisian Ramadan TV series Baraa has sparked a backlash on social media. In the United States, polygamy is only legal in the state of Utah. E-mail: info@libraearies.com site: www.libraearies.com. In the event of divorce, the woman may assume certain guardianship rights if the male guardian has behaved badly. Women therefore had the right to have an abortion in an approved hospital within the first 12 weeks, could grant citizenship to their children with the husband`s consent, and married women had the right to adopt children. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956,[1][2] the same year of its official independence. Intimate in-person access to policy and business VIPs. APR 13, 2022 LISTEN. PIP: As in other Arab-Muslim states, the status of women in Tunisia is based on the superiority of male elders. Nasrawi added that the first wife filed a lawsuit against him with the court of Nabeul in northeastern Tunisia, but no measures have been taken against him so far. See also All rights reserved. Why did the Soviet Union and the United States almost go to war in October 1962? France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. About 200 people rallied outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday evening in support of two young political activists now on the 42nd day of a hunger strike. In addition, 27% of the divorcees are aged below 36 years old. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines, In one episode of the series, the main character declares to his wife and children that he has the right to marry a second woman under Islamic law, Polygamy was outlawed in Tunisia's family code, passed in 1956 just five months after independence from France, Rights groups say polygamy and customary marriage are "forms of violence against women" and that discussing them "normalises a culture of impunity". TUNIS - A Ramadan TV series dealing with polygamy has sparked a heated debate in Tunisia, an Arab pioneer in women's rights that banned the practice decades ago. Tunisia's 2011 revolt, which overthrew Bourguiba's successor Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, brought in a parliamentary system ideologically divided between secularists and Islamist-leaning parties such as Ennahdha. It also changed the law so that divorce cases had to go through the courts, meaning a husband could no longer simply declare a marriage over. "Baraa" (Arabic for "innocence") has also been criticised by rights activists and secular politicians for its portrayal of customary "orfi" marriage, religious unions not sanctioned by the state. Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.Delivered straight to your inbox. Its supporters, such as Archbishop Gabriel Roric of the Reformed Episcopal Church (an Anglican denomination), however, maintain polygamy is a source of "African pride," saying those who opposed it were misguided by the western world's approaches to marriage. According to a recent report by Tunisias National Office for Family and Population, the country has one of the highest number of single women in the Arab world. The Mufti, the national religious authority, delivers the Certificate of Conversion that must be presented to City Hall before a marriage can take place. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. "Baraa" (Arabic . Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Tunisia is a unique example because, unlike Turkey's ban on polygyny (which stemmed from the secularisation of the legal system), Tunisian law was the first prohibition that used a fundamental Quranic precept in its legal reasoning. In general, the provisions (legislation) relating to family law in modern Muslim countries are linked to polygamous rules, something that can be classified into three. Algeria's considerably amended Code de la Famille (Family Code) and Morocco's new Moudawana (Family Law) (Articles 40-46) have both introduced . A shocking 82% of couples file for divorce within their first year of marriage, before the honeymoon period has even had chance to fade. Women-led anthology series 'Roar' , tells feminist fables https://t.co/WHRlDhWjIB. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. In front of his wife and children, he asserts that he has the right to do so in the name of Sharia, the Islamic law, which he says is "above all other laws". Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content. She claimed that it also indicates a lack of awareness among those who ask for it, adding that it will not affect the way of life of Tunisian society or the achievements of Tunisian women. . Divorce in Tunisia is a civil matter.At present the Code of Personal Status sets out three grounds for divorce: How long does it take to get married in Tunisia? This makes Tunisia the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to remove legal barriers to marriage outside the official religion of the state. LIBRA & ARIES CONSULTING SH.P.K This can be difficult to do if polygamy is illegal. But in one episode, the series' main character, Wannas, declares to his wife and children that he has the right to marry a second woman under Islamic law, which "trumps all other laws". 3 min. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. The conversion process can take three months or longer. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Calls for protests have sparked a debate on the issue of polygamy, which is rejected by the majority of Tunisians but supported by a minority under the pretext of respecting Sharia law. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. According to the Muslim tradition, men can have up to four wives. Foreigners wishing to live in Tunisia without gainful employment, such as tourists, may stay in Tunisia for 3 months (90 days) or 4 months (120 days) without a permit. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Since independence in 1956, the Tunisian state has been involved in legislation on the status of women in the family, denying women the right to vote for members of the National Constituent Assembly. The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age. Thank you for subscribing our enewsletter. The abolition of the decree may not remove the cultural and traditional barriers women face when interfaith marriage in their families, but it now offers Tunisian women greater freedom of choice from a legal perspective. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. He added that he also calls for a revision of all articles of the personal status law a set of laws that establish women`s rights and freedoms in Tunisia and not just the article on polygamy. The main character of the series "Baraa" (Innocence), Wannas, beats a rosary and demands, from the third episode onwards, to be united with a second wife. 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polygamy in tunisia