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. post-revolution initiative to cancel all laws that contradict Islamic principles. 2023 Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts. He added however that "in my estimation, and according to my knowledge of the male gender to which I belong to, the opposite will happen because the crisis will be exacerbated by men looking for younger women, unless they accept marriage as an act of charity and kindness". Please watch: "Sebulan Belum Tamat ! Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. 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. Tunisia has some of the strongest womens rights laws in the Middle East. "Baraa" (Arabic . 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956,[1] the same year it gained official independence. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! 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. 13 Apr 2022 at 10:45. Read: Tunisian union calls for another nationwide strike to press wage demands. Oops, this content can't be loadedbecause you're having connectivity problems, Stay always informed and up to date with our breaking news alerts, Polygamy for Tunisia? Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age. 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. According to the Muslim tradition, men can have up to four wives. The report revealed that the number of single women has increased to more than 2.25 million, out of a total of 4.9 million females in the country. He had a wife in Tunisia then married another in exile and brought her with him when he got back, Nasrawi said. The Islamic revolution calls for multiple wives, Published September 1st, 2012 - 10:04 GMT. 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. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. . Thank you for subscribing our enewsletter. 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. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. Al-Zghal stressed in previous press releases that women would participate in the protest to express anger over Tunisia`s failure to allow polygamy. This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. 3 min. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. Adultery is a crime punishable by law for both spouses 7. dinars. In current times, Tunisia is still one of the very few predominantly Islamic nations that has legally banned polygamy. 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. 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". Tunis, Tunisia, differentiates itself with low living costs. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. In the United States, polygamy is only legal in the state of Utah. 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 justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. 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 . Issued on: 13/04/2022 - 04:38. E-mail: info@libraearies.com site: www.libraearies.com. Premi ESC per annullare. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs. 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. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. 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. "It is a failed plan which will not deceive the smart Tunisian people," he added. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. 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. Another activist, Raouf Al-Guizani, described this demand as "electoral begging" aimed at distorting Ennahda. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. "In Tunisia, some people are in favour of concubinage and others approve of customary marriage," adds Foued Ghorbali, for whom this controversy reflects "an ideological conflict between conservatives and those who present themselves as progressives. polygamy is still an issue in . A woman could contribute to the costs of a marriage if she could afford it, wives could cooperate with husbands in family affairs and child-rearing, and they automatically assumed guardianship of minor children in the event of the death of a husband. The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. 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. In practice, judges give less than 5 years of imprisonment. 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. Women-led anthology series 'Roar' , tells feminist fables https://t.co/WHRlDhWjIB. The birth of a child in Tunisia is an important time in the life of the Tunisian family. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. 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. 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. -Tunisia-Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-UAE. 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 statistics from the Ministry of Justice, 1,718 "orfi" marriage cases were examined by the country's courts between 2015 and 2020. Al-Monitor.com is a trusted and award-winning independent source of Middle East news and analysis, founded in 2012. Weekly A.I. Tunis is 68.82% less expensive than New York (without rent). 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". As a result of the abuse or injury of one spouse by the other. Rent in Tunis is, on average, 93.08% lower than in New York. 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. 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". Djerbi considered calls to demonstrate against polygamy as a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. All rights reserved. These issues, which are not usually discussed, remain taboo subjects, yet they are phenomena that exist in Tunisia, said Foued Ghorbali, another sociologist. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. 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. Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. 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. Ben Faraj told Alkhaleej Online that "polygamy will open the door to the emergence of new social problems that do not exist today," pointing out that "the implementation of this idea is almost impossible in Tunisia, as polygamy had not exceeded 5 per cent since it was allowed centuries ago". This Tunisia-related article is a stub. Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Tunisian Moderate Association for Awareness and Reform, Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy in Melbourne on January 30, 2023, after winning the Australian Open tennis tournament's mens' singles final against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas. 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. [2] No. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim countries to have banned polygamy. The Mufti, the national religious authority, delivers the Certificate of Conversion that must be presented to City Hall before a marriage can take place. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Polygamy is an injustice to women, he was widely cited as saying, sparking both angry and supportive reactions in the traditional and online media. 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. APR 13, 2022 LISTEN. The freedom of expression acquired after the 2011 Revolution has even encouraged some to call for the return of polygamy, including a collective of women who organised a demonstration in early 2018. Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content. According to our city rankings, this is a good place to live with high ratings in housing, business freedom and safety. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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". "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. 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". France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Contents1 How many wives can [] Do you think polygamy should be legalised in Tunisia? The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. 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. . 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". 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. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. According to the latest report published by the National Office for Family and Population in December 2017, Tunisia is one of the countries with the highest rate of reluctance to get married, with figures standing at 60 per cent much higher than the ratios of other Arab countries. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. Try it for free and cancel anytime. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Secrets and Wives: The Hidden World of Mormon Polygamy at the best online prices at eBay! 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. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. 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."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.Both practices are punishable by up to a year in . The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Why did the Soviet Union and the United States almost go to war in October 1962? 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. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Almost half of all university students are women. Demographics . 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. Laws that contradict Islamic principles Ghorbali said in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib prohibited! A backlash on social media had a wife in Tunisia, a group women. 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