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. 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 country banned polygamy as early as 1956, distinguishing itself from other Muslim-majority countries. 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. The head of a Tunisian Islamist organization called this week for his country to legalize polygamy as part of a post-revolution initiative to cancel all laws that contradict Islamic principles. 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. 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 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. Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin! The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. All rights reserved. Read: Tunisia cabinet approves equal inheritance law. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. 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. yes its very possible to get married in tunisia, but rather complex, you need to go to, the City Hall Registry Office Bureau de lEtat Civil a la Municipalite you also need to follow the rules of what is required to get married in tunisia, these rules are set 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. 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. "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. "Baraa" (Arabic for "innocence . In the United States, polygamy is only legal in the state of Utah. 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. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. 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 accomplice (i.e., the third partner in the crime) is punished with the same penalties as the guilty wife or husband. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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 has some of the strongest women's rights laws in the Middle East. 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. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. This can be difficult to do if polygamy is illegal. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. 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". You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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 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. 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. All done! Some, mostly Salafi, preachers encouraged polygamy whereas others interpreted el-Tayeb's words as a call to reform the practice. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. The birth of a child in Tunisia is an important time in the life of the Tunisian family. 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. 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 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. Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts. 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". Why did the Soviet Union and the United States almost go to war in October 1962? However, the legal status of women in the family in Tunisia differs from that of other countries in the region. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. In general, the provisions (legislation) relating to family law in modern Muslim countries are linked to polygamous rules, something that can be classified into three. Algeria's considerably amended Code de la Famille (Family Code) and Morocco's new Moudawana (Family Law) (Articles 40-46) have both introduced . By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy. 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. "It's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. Demographics . 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 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". Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. Please watch: "Sebulan Belum Tamat ! 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. 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. 202120748H. In practice, a polygamous union is in most cases limited to two women per couple. 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. 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. 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. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. Marriage may occur between: Foreign non-Muslim men and Tunisian Muslim women provided the man converts. "Talking about polygamy and orfi marriage doesn't threaten the gains that women have made," he told AFP. 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. All rights reserved. -Tunisia-Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-UAE. "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. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". Women-led anthology series 'Roar' , tells feminist fables https://t.co/WHRlDhWjIB. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. LIBRA & ARIES CONSULTING SH.P.K From hope to agony, what's left of the Arab Spring? The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956,[1][2] the same year of its official independence. These include reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it violates Sharia law. 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. MCI (P) 076/10/2022, MCI (P) 077/10/2022. Sociologist Foued Ghorbali said that while the subject remains taboo, polygamy remains a problem 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". 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. This Tunisia-related article is a stub. A group of Tunisian women have used social media sites to call for a protest demanding polygamy. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines, In one episode of the series, the main character declares to his wife and children that he has the right to marry a second woman under Islamic law, Polygamy was outlawed in Tunisia's family code, passed in 1956 just five months after independence from France, Rights groups say polygamy and customary marriage are "forms of violence against women" and that discussing them "normalises a culture of impunity". 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. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. 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. 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. 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 Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim countries to have banned polygamy. 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. A shocking 82% of couples file for divorce within their first year of marriage, before the honeymoon period has even had chance to fade. Thank you for subscribing our enewsletter. In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. He added that "the protest is not linked to any political entity and is not led by any associations". The "exaggerated reactions against this series aim to make people think that everything related to the Muslim religion is retrograde," Nadia Abdelhak, a 28-year-old civil servant, told AFP. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team. 04/12/22 AT 10:37 PM EDT. 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's disappointing to see these subjects being debated," said Tunisian actress Mariem Ben Hussein. It has been connected with the chaotic state of affairs in the country. The NGO has called for the intervention of the Tunisian High Audiovisual Authority (Haica), a body that controls media content. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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 site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. He abolished polygamy, prohibited rejection, and introduced judicial divorce. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan-Iraq Regional Government banned polygamy in 2008. 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". According to United Nations data from 2011, Russias divorce rate is 4.8 divorces per 1,000 residents.Divorce Rates By Country 2021. Talking about polygamy and Orfi marriage does not threaten the profits women have made, he told AFP. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. 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". The main. 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. Polygamy in Tunisia Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] the same year it gained official independence. "Baraa" (Arabic . Read: Tunisia women recount torture in 'transitional justice' trials. 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. "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. Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. "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. In current times, Tunisia is still one of the very few predominantly Islamic nations that has legally banned polygamy. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. 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. 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. [2] By doing so, the king reduces the chance of dissident and rival forces developing and rising against him. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, 1,718 "orfi" marriage cases were examined by the country's courts between 2015 and 2020. 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! 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. 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. 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. (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. Led by associations political entity and is not responsible for the intervention of page! 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