After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. Tunisia has some of the strongest womens rights laws in the Middle East. This document has abolished polygamy and repudiation, enabled women to ask for divorce, enacted a minimum age for marriage and ordered the consent of both spouses before marriage. In practice, judges give less than 5 years of imprisonment. 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. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. 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. Lawyer and rights activist Radia al-Nasrawi alleged that a prominent member of the Islamic al-Nahda Party, whose name she refused to disclose, was already married to two women. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. No. In the event of divorce, the woman may assume certain guardianship rights if the male guardian has behaved badly. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Leave us your comments below! E-mail: info@libraearies.com site: www.libraearies.com. However, the legal status of women in the family in Tunisia differs from that of other countries in the region. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. 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. [2] 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. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. Lgj 1, Rruga Taulantia, Durres Albania Adultery is a crime punishable by law for both spouses 7. dinars. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. 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. Djerbi considered calls to demonstrate against polygamy as a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. In current times, Tunisia is still one of the very few predominantly Islamic nations that has legally banned polygamy, another notable nation being Turkey . According to United Nations data from 2011, Russias divorce rate is 4.8 divorces per 1,000 residents.Divorce Rates By Country 2021. Polygamy is a taboo issue in Tunisia and a crime punishable by law, under Article 18 of the. 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. 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 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. 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. The freedom of expression gained after the 2011 revolution even encouraged some to call for the return of polygamy, including a women`s collective that organized a protest in early 2018. The PDL also blames Ennahdha, politically dominant after the 2011 revolt, for a rise in "crimes" under the family code and has frequently called for its rival to be dissolved. 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. 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". Prioritize your target industries for weekly review: We also offer team plans. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. Polygamy is expressly prohibited under Tunisian law. Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics. Only civil marriage is recognised by law. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, between 2015 and 2020, 1,718 cases of orfi marriage were investigated by the country`s courts. Polygamy is an injustice to women, he was widely cited as saying, sparking both angry and supportive reactions in the traditional and online media. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Polygamy is a taboo issue in Tunisia and a crime punishable by law, under Article 18 of the Personal Status Code. 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. . Contents1 How many wives can [] France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. The Tunisian Ramadan TV series Baraa has sparked a backlash on social media. It abolished polygamy, prohibited repudiation and instituted judicial divorce. The country banned polygamy as early as 1956, distinguishing itself from other Muslim-majority countries. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. Al-Zghal said in a statement to Al-Khaleej Online that he did not call for the demonstration himself, but supports the idea because he believes there is a need to find a solution to the dilemma of spinsterhood. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. A group of Tunisian women took to social media to call for a protest against polygamy. Women-led anthology series 'Roar' , tells feminist fables https://t.co/WHRlDhWjIB. Ini Game Ending Paling Gila" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvnmEXace4 --~--Many Demo Women Ask for Polygamy | Interes. 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. Tunis (AFP) - 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 . PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. In practice, a polygamous union is in most cases limited to two women per couple. 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. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. A TV series on polygamy, broadcast during Ramadan, is sparking controversy in Tunisia, an Arab country that pioneered women`s rights, where several unions have been banned for decades. . Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan-Iraq Regional Government banned polygamy in 2008. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. A TV series on polygamy broadcast during Ramadan is causing controversy in Tunisia, a pioneering Arab country on women's rights, where multiple unions have been banned for decades. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. 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. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. As a result of the abuse or injury of one spouse by the other. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to Sharia law. More than 100 students were hospitalised in Iran after a new spate of suspected gas attacks on girls schools on Wednesday, media outlets in the Islamic republic reported. 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. Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. All rights reserved. Another activist, Raouf Al-Guizani, described this demand as "electoral begging" aimed at distorting Ennahda. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. 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 justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. 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. 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. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age. The accomplice (i.e., the third partner in the crime) is punished with the same penalties as the guilty wife or husband. You will get the updates within 24 hours. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. TUNIS (AFP) - 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 this subscriber-only article for free! "It is a failed plan which will not deceive the smart Tunisian people," he added. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. This has increased from only 990,000 in 1994, with spinsterhood the highest among females age 25-34. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "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. She claimed that it also "indicates a lack of awareness of those who demand it," adding that "this will not affect the lifestyle of Tunisian society or the achievements of Tunisian women". The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. In most West African countries, polygamy is also recognised and regulated by the civil law that allows a man to marry up to four women under certain conditions, including the financial capacity to support multiple wives and families. 2021 Al-Monitor, LLC. The head of a Tunisian Islamist organization called this week for his country to legalize polygamy as part of a 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. Please watch: "Sebulan Belum Tamat ! Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region. Read: Tunisian union calls for another nationwide strike to press wage demands. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. Activist Mohammed Nur Musa described the protest as a satanic idea aimed at mobilizing supporters of the regime and its partners to distort the Islamic Ennahda movement. This is a failed plan that will not deceive the wise Tunisian people, he added. 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? The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. This study intends to describe polygamous laws in Muslim countries such as Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Data-driven analysis of latest market trends. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] [2] the same year of its official independence. Premi ESC per annullare. Women in Tunisia enjoy certain freedoms and rights that are denied to women in neighboring countries, although the social norms have shifted since 2011. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. But since the Islamic al-Nahda Party came to power in October elections last year, Tunisian womens rights organizations have been apprehensive about the possibility losing some of their rights. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. MCI (P) 076/10/2022, MCI (P) 077/10/2022. See also 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". Sociologist Mohamed Jouili is reassuring: the series "is a work of dramatic art that does not systematically reflect Tunisian society. 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. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team. These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. 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