Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. 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. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. He had a wife in Tunisia then married another in exile and brought her with him when he got back, Nasrawi said. 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". These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. These include: Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. It can show a point of view or phenomena in society that could be a subject of debate," he said. 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. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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. 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. 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Polygamy and customary marriage are "forms of violence against women" and their evocation "normalises the culture of impunity", says the organisation Aswat Nissa (Voice of Women) on its Facebook page. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. PIP: As in other Arab-Muslim states, the status of women in Tunisia is based on the superiority of male elders. This Tunisia-related article is a stub. 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. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. 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. However, sociologist Salahuddin Ben Faraj does not see polygamy as the solution to the problem. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Leave us your comments below! "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. 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. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. 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. 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. 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 has increased from only 990,000 in 1994, with spinsterhood the highest among females age 25-34. 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. 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 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In practice, judges give less than 5 years of imprisonment. Can you have 4 wives in Tunisia? 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". Polygamy is a taboo issue in Tunisia and a crime punishable by law, under Article 18 of the Personal Status Code. The country banned polygamy as early as 1956, distinguishing itself from other Muslim-majority countries. The Personal Status Code passed in 1956 by late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba prohibited polygamy, raised the age. 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. Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! For example, the first wife has to approve before her husband is allowed to remarry, he said. This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to Sharia law. 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? Al-Zghal stressed in previous press releases that women would participate in the protest to express anger over Tunisia`s failure to allow polygamy. It has been connected with the chaotic state of affairs in the country. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] [2] the same year of its official independence. Polygamy is a taboo issue in Tunisia and a crime punishable by law, under Article 18 of the. Rent in Tunis is, on average, 93.08% lower than in New York. The author describes the obstacles to the effective practice of this civil law and to the building of democracy in the family. Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. 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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 is a failed plan which will not deceive the smart Tunisian people," he added. 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. 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. driven curation of top business stories accross 12 industries in the region. 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". Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. 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". 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. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. This can be difficult to do if polygamy is illegal. 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 In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. 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 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." 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. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. See also You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Summary about cost of living in Tunis, Tunisia: A single person estimated monthly costs are 400$ (1,116DT) without rent. 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. Read: Tunisian union calls for another nationwide strike to press wage demands. 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. 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". Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates. Cell.Albania: +355698129583 Cell.Italia: +393357589095 "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Marriage may occur between: Foreign non-Muslim men and Tunisian Muslim women provided the man converts. Djerbi considered calls for protests demanding polygamy to be "a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. The CSP, enacted five months after the country's independence, is revolutionary legislation that granted Tunisian women rights unprecedented in the Arab world. published : It abolished polygamy, prohibited repudiation and instituted judicial divorce. Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. A shocking 82% of couples file for divorce within their first year of marriage, before the honeymoon period has even had chance to fade. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. Tunisia has some of the strongest women's rights laws in the Middle East. "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. Ini Game Ending Paling Gila" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvnmEXace4 --~--Many Demo Women Ask for Polygamy | Interes. polygamy is still an issue in . 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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. 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 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. 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. 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. "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. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. Intimate in-person access to policy and business VIPs. Do you think polygamy should be legalised in Tunisia? The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim countries to have banned polygamy. 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". No. Issued on: 13/04/2022 - 04:38. 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. 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. 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. For the LDP, "these crimes" (polygamy and customary marriage, editor's note), punishable by one year's imprisonment, have reappeared in Tunisian society since the Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha came to power in 2011. 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". "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. Inizia a scrivere il termine ricerca qua sopra e premi invio per iniziare la ricerca. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. 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. 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. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. 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. 2021 Al-Monitor, LLC. The sociologist denounces "a stupid instrumentalisation to gain political points". Algeria's considerably amended Code de la Famille (Family Code) and Morocco's new Moudawana (Family Law) (Articles 40-46) have both introduced . "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. 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. In practice, a polygamous union is in most cases limited to two women per couple. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. A form of madness, a body that controls media content does `` not necessarily reflect Tunisian society.! The author describes the obstacles to the problem media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy remains one the. 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