Another activist, Raouf Al-Guizani, described this demand as "electoral begging" aimed at distorting Ennahda. Polygamy is an injustice to women, he was widely cited as saying, sparking both angry and supportive reactions in the traditional and online media. 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. "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. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content. 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. 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. Polygamy is expressly prohibited under Tunisian law. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. "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. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. Inizia a scrivere il termine ricerca qua sopra e premi invio per iniziare la ricerca. 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. 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 . The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Some, mostly Salafi, preachers encouraged polygamy whereas others interpreted el-Tayeb's words as a call to reform the practice. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. 2021 Al-Monitor, LLC. 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. Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. All rights reserved. Only civil marriage is recognized by law. 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". For the LDP, these crimes (polygamy and habitual marriage, editor`s note), punishable by one year in prison, have resurfaced in Tunisian society since the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party came to power in 2011. All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Please watch: "Sebulan Belum Tamat ! Al-Zghal stressed in previous press releases that women would participate in the protest to express anger over Tunisia`s failure to allow polygamy. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review: We also offer team plans. Broadcast on the private channel El Hiwar Ettounsi after the break of the fast since the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims, the series has triggered controversy by addressing two practices prohibited by Tunisian law: polygamy and religious marriage called "orfi". 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. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. These include: Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. 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. This has increased from only 990,000 in 1994, with spinsterhood the highest among females age 25-34. 2023 Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! 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 over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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. Free shipping for many products! He abolished polygamy, prohibited rejection, and introduced judicial divorce. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue 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". 13 Apr 2022 at 10:45. 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 Summary about cost of living in Tunis, Tunisia: A single person estimated monthly costs are 400$ (1,116DT) without rent. The Tunisian Ramadan TV series Baraa has sparked a backlash on social media. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. 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. However, sociologist Salahuddin Ben Faraj does not see polygamy as the solution to the problem. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy is still an issue in Tunisia. 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. 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. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. [26] Use of Maslahah Another basis for the abolishment of polygyny lies in the jurisprudential concept of maslahah. post-revolution initiative to cancel all laws that contradict Islamic principles. 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. 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. Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates. 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! 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 . 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 pointed out that political parties close to Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi supported these moves and called on people not to follow these calls. 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. 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 addition, 27% of the divorcees are aged below 36 years old. 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. "The role of drama is not to give a good image of society, it exposes a point of view or social issues that can be a subject of debate," he explains. By Achraf OUERGHEMMI (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. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. 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. 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. 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. 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. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP), A surgery team operates on a child rescued from the rubble of a building at a hospital in the town of Harim in Syria's rebel-held northwestern Idlib province. Sociologist Mohamed Jouili is reassuring: the series "is a work of dramatic art that does not systematically reflect Tunisian society. At the request of one spouse citing a specific, recognised ground. 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. Talking about polygamy and Orfi marriage does not threaten the profits women have made, he told AFP. 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's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. 3 min. 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. Read this subscriber-only article for free! 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. You will get the updates within 24 hours. This can be difficult to do if polygamy is illegal. [2] 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. Polygamy in Tunisia Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] the same year it gained official independence. 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. 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. It has been connected with the chaotic state of affairs in the country. 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. The accomplice (i.e., the third partner in the crime) is punished with the same penalties as the guilty wife or husband. 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. 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. 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. 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. Tunisia . After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. -Tunisia-Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-UAE. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. Adel Elmi, head of the Tunisian Moderate Association for Awareness and Reform, formerly known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said in a Wednesday radio statement that marriage laws ought to be modified. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP), China accuses US of flying 10 balloons over its airspace. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. 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. In the event of divorce, the woman may assume certain guardianship rights if the male guardian has behaved badly. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956,[1] the same year it gained official independence. 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 main reason polygamy is legal in these countries is because the husband is responsible for providing for all of his wives and their children. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim countries to have banned polygamy. Tunisia has some of the strongest women's rights laws in the Middle East. MCI (P) 076/10/2022, MCI (P) 077/10/2022. Women in Tunisia enjoy certain freedoms and rights that are denied to women in neighboring countries, although the social norms have shifted since 2011. 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. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. 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. He added that "the protest is not linked to any political entity and is not led by any associations". 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. 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