He pointed out that political parties close to Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi supported these moves and called on people not to follow these calls. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. This places Tunisia as one of the worst divorce centres in the Arab world. Tunisian actors (L to R) Rim Riahi, Fethi Haddaoui, and Ahlam Fekih look on during the filming of the Tunisian television series "Baraa" (innocence) in the capital Tunis on De, By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. 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. "Baraa" (Arabic for "innocence . By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy. Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates. 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. 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. Keywords: Dynamics, Gender, Polygamy Law, Tunisia One of phenomenon were risen in the Muslim world in the 20 th century was the existence of the family law reforms which is A shocking 82% of couples file for divorce within their first year of marriage, before the honeymoon period has even had chance to fade. "Baraa" (Arabic for "innocence") has also been criticized by rights activists and secular politicians for its portrayal of customary "orfi" marriage, religious unions not sanctioned by the state. Weekly A.I. This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to Sharia law. This Tunisia-related article is a stub. 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. Only civil marriage is recognised by law. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP), China accuses US of flying 10 balloons over its airspace. As a result of the abuse or injury of one spouse by the other. You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month. 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. 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". 2023 Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. In the event of divorce, the woman may assume certain guardianship rights if the male guardian has behaved badly. 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. 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. Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. HANOI: Five moon bears have been rescued in Vietnam from an illegal bile extraction farm, in the latest effort by authorities to eradicate a practice widely condemned for its cruelty. Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956,[1] the same year it gained official independence. published : -Tunisia-Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-UAE. 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. 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. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. It revealed that as of last year their numbers increased to more than 2.25 million out of a total of 4.9 million females in the country. The Personal Status Act of 1956 allows women to freely and personally consent to their marriage, sets the minimum age of marriage for women over 17 years of age, requires a medical certificate before marriage and allows a woman to consent to the marriage of her children if they are minors. Intimate in-person access to policy and business VIPs. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review: We also offer team plans. The accomplice (i.e., the third partner in the crime) is punished with the same penalties as the guilty wife or husband. This can be difficult to do if polygamy is illegal. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. The calls for a demonstration have sparked debate about the issue of polygamy, which is rejected by the majority of Tunisians but supported by a minority on the pretext of following Sharia law. APR 13, 2022 LISTEN. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, 1,718 "orfi" marriage cases were examined by the country's courts between 2015 and 2020. 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". Thank you for subscribing our enewsletter. In addition, 27% of the divorcees are aged below 36 years old. These include: Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. From hope to agony, what's left of the Arab Spring? E-mail: info@libraearies.com site: www.libraearies.com. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. The sociologist denounces "a stupid instrumentalisation to gain political points". The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. 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". 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. Al-Zghal stressed in previous press releases that women would participate in the protest to express anger over Tunisia`s failure to allow polygamy. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. The series, broadcast on the private channel El Hiwar Ettounsi since the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims, after the breaking of the fast, has sparked controversy by addressing two practices prohibited by Tunisian law: polygamy and religious marriage known as orfi. However, the legal status of women in the family in Tunisia differs from that of other countries in the region. PIP: As in other Arab-Muslim states, the status of women in Tunisia is based on the superiority of male elders. 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 group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Almost half of all university students are women. The conversion process can take three months or longer. Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics. 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. "Baraa" (Arabic . You will get the updates within 24 hours. Concise, actionable scenarios and predictions from top regional experts. 04/12/22 AT 10:37 PM EDT. Any individual who engages in the union of marriage before the dissolution of their previous/current matrimony is sanctioned by one year of imprisonment and/or a fine, even if the first marriage or the new marriage were not contracted in accordance with the law. The main. Polygamy in Tunisia Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] the same year it gained official independence. 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. 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. Tunis is 68.82% less expensive than New York (without rent). Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. 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. The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age. The birth of a child in Tunisia is an important time in the life of the Tunisian family. Apr 13, 2022, 11:28 AM SGT. Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. He added that "the protest is not linked to any political entity and is not led by any associations". This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to law. Country of 12 million people Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, same... 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