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". "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. Meanwhile the Head of the National Union of Tunisian Women, Radhia Djerbi, said in a statement to Alkhaleej Online that the articles of the Personal Status Code were approved by the Tunisian Constitution and cannot be amended through protest. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This Tunisia-related article is a stub. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. E-mail: info@libraearies.com site: www.libraearies.com. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. 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. 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. He had a wife in Tunisia then married another in exile and brought her with him when he got back, Nasrawi said. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan-Iraq Regional Government banned polygamy in 2008. Women in Tunisia enjoy certain freedoms and rights that are denied to women in neighboring countries, although the social norms have shifted since 2011. 3 min. Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. 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 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. 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. 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. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Talking about polygamy and Orfi marriage does not threaten the profits women have made, he told AFP. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. 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. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. Sanctioning polygamy is a popular demand now in Tunisia, Elmi said. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. 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. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. These issues, which are not usually discussed, remain taboo subjects, yet they are phenomena that exist in Tunisia, said Foued Ghorbali, another sociologist. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Al-Zghal stressed in previous press releases that women would participate in the protest to express anger over Tunisia`s failure to allow polygamy. Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. 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 . This study intends to describe polygamous laws in Muslim countries such as Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. 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. Lgj 1, Rruga Taulantia, Durres Albania 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". "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. At the request of one spouse citing a specific, recognised ground. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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 . Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. 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. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. "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. However, sociologist Salahuddin Ben Faraj does not see polygamy as the solution to the problem. 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. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. 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 has stressed in previous press statements that the women will participate in the demonstration to express their anger at the failure of Tunisia to allow polygamy. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Tunisia has some of the strongest womens rights laws in the Middle East. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. "Baraa" (Arabic for "innocence . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Free shipping for many products! Man with 39 wives, head of 'world's largest family', dies in India, Self-styled prophet in S'pore said to have five spiritual wives. Summary about cost of living in Tunis, Tunisia: A single person estimated monthly costs are 400$ (1,116DT) without rent. 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. 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". He added that the protest is not linked to any political entity and is not led by associations. Human rights group Aswat Nissa (Women`s Voices) said polygamy and common marriage are forms of violence against women and that their discussion normalizes a culture of impunity. A number of activists believe the call for polygamy was motivated by political parties targeting the Islamic Ennahda movement and distorting its image ahead of the upcoming elections. However, a group of women have taken to social media to call for a protest to be held in front of parliament to demand polygamy. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Djerbi considered calls for protests demanding polygamy to be "a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. 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. 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. Read this subscriber-only article for free! The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age of marriage for girls to 17 years old, facilitated womens ability to obtain divorce in court, and banned forced marriages for minor girls. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. "It is a failed plan which will not deceive the smart Tunisian people," he added. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. "It is out of the question to discuss these issues again", since the Personal Status Code (CSP), promulgated on 13 August 1956 by former president Habib Bourguiba, "has ruled on these practices", denounced the anti-Islamist Free Destourian Party (PDL) in a statement. 13 Apr 2022 at 10:45. This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. MCI (P) 076/10/2022, MCI (P) 077/10/2022. 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". Cell.Albania: +355698129583 Cell.Italia: +393357589095 2023 Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. [26] Use of Maslahah Another basis for the abolishment of polygyny lies in the jurisprudential concept of maslahah. 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. 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. The CSP, enacted five months after the country's independence, is revolutionary legislation that granted Tunisian women rights unprecedented in the Arab world. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Tunis, Tunisia, differentiates itself with low living costs. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. The author describes the obstacles to the effective practice of this civil law and to the building of democracy in the family. 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." According to United Nations data from 2011, Russias divorce rate is 4.8 divorces per 1,000 residents.Divorce Rates By Country 2021. In current times, Tunisia is still one of the very few predominantly Islamic nations that has legally banned polygamy, another notable nation being Turkey . Intimate in-person access to policy and business VIPs. The news was announced by President of the Forum of Freedom and Citizenship, Fathi Al-Zghal, who confirmed that "the demonstration is spontaneous and comes within the framework of advocacy to solve the problem of spinsterhood in the country". 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? 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". 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. 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. 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. 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. Apr 13, 2022, 11:28 AM SGT. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. It has been connected with the chaotic state of affairs in the country. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs. 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. 2021 Al-Monitor, LLC. Foreigners wishing to engage in gainful employment require a residence permit (visa and residence permit). -Tunisia-Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-UAE. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. 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. "Baraa" (Arabic . 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. See also document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); January 26, 2019 at 11:55 am | Published in: A Tunisian woman can be seen wearing the national flag on 13 August 2018 [FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images]Tunisian, Tunisian union calls for another nationwide strike to press wage demands, Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law, Tunisia women recount torture in 'transitional justice' trials. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy remains a problem in Tunisia. 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. 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. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. Contents1 How many wives can [] But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. 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