Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. From hope to agony, what's left of the Arab Spring? Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. PIP: As in other Arab-Muslim states, the status of women in Tunisia is based on the superiority of male elders. 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. The series, aired at prime time after observant Muslims break their daytime fast, has sparked a backlash on social media. 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956,[1][2] the same year of its official independence. "The over-reactions to the series are trying to convince people that everything related to Islam is backwards," the 28-year-old said. 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'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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East, The Tunisian Ramadan TV series "Baraa" has been criticised by rights activists and secular politicians over the issue of polygamy, Wars, poverty fuel spike in Iraqi child labour, Swapping kabsa for kale: Saudis embrace healthy eating, Iran expert John Raine says Iranian hardliners want a military pact with Russia for the survival of the Islamic regime, Prospects for Israel, its economy and US-Israel relations: Live Q&A webinar with Haim Saban, Breakfast Briefing on the Middle East with US Senator Chris Van Hollen. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. 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". Tunisia . Polygamy in South Sudan is quite common. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. The accomplice (i.e., the third partner in the crime) is punished with the same penalties as the guilty wife or husband. After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. This study intends to describe polygamous laws in Muslim countries such as Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Djerbi considered calls for protests demanding polygamy to be "a form of madness, a pathological phenomenon. This includes reviewing unfair divorce procedures and abolishing the principle of adoption because it is contrary to Sharia law. 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. 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. 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 any associations". You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month. 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. 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. 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." In early 2018, a group of women held a protest to demand the re-legalisation of polygamy. . "It is a failed plan which will not deceive the smart Tunisian people," he added. 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. Why did the Soviet Union and the United States almost go to war in October 1962? Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. 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. 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". Women in Tunisia enjoy certain freedoms and rights that are denied to women in neighboring countries, although the social norms have shifted since 2011. But sociologist Mohamed Jouil said the series does "not necessarily reflect Tunisian society". 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? 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. Al-Zghal said in a statement to Al-Khaleej Online that he did not call for the demonstration himself, but supports the idea because he believes there is a need to find a solution to the dilemma of spinsterhood. 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. According to United Nations data from 2011, Russias divorce rate is 4.8 divorces per 1,000 residents.Divorce Rates By Country 2021. 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". 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. Disillusionment and unhappiness in Tunisia, a decade on after the Arab Spring. According to the Muslim tradition, men can have up to four wives. Tunisia became the first Arab state to formally abolish polygamy in 1956, the same year it gained official independence. 3 min. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. Talking about polygamy and Orfi marriage does not threaten the profits women have made, he told AFP. 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. Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content. All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Read this subscriber-only article for free! 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. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim nations that has legally banned polygamy. In practice, a polygamous union is in most cases limited to two women per couple. Rent in Tunis is, on average, 93.08% lower than in New York. 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. "It's not the role of drama to present a positive image of society. Weekly A.I. 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. 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. 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". Muslim Polygamy - Legal Information - Muslim Polygamy A Complete Ban on Polygamy A few Muslim-majority countries have completely outlawed polygamy. 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. Adultery is a crime punishable by law for both spouses 7. dinars. 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. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! 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. 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. 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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. The conversion process can take three months or longer. 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 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". 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. Concise, actionable scenarios and predictions from top regional experts. PESCO, enacted five months after the country`s independence, is groundbreaking legislation that grants Tunisian women unprecedented rights in the Arab world. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. 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. "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. "Some Tunisians support customary marriage," he said. 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. Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs. The justice ministry said courts examined 1,718 cases of orfi marriage between 2015 and 2020 in the country of 12 million people. Tunisia remains one of the few predominantly Muslim countries to have banned polygamy. In the event of divorce, the woman may assume certain guardianship rights if the male guardian has behaved badly. However, sociologist Salahuddin Ben Faraj does not see polygamy as the solution to the problem. Tunisia was the first Arab state to officially abolish polygamy in 1956, [1] [2] the same year of its official independence. 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. Premi ESC per annullare. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Foreigners wishing to engage in gainful employment require a residence permit (visa and residence permit). This places Tunisia as one of the worst divorce centres in the Arab world. Such controversies ought to be reflected in the arts, Ghorbali said. Turkey banned the practice in 1926, while the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq banned polygamy in 2008. "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. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. 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". After Islamist movements grew following the 2011 revolt, "religious marriage became more common" particularly among university students looking for "halal" sex, he added. 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. Women therefore had the right to have an abortion in an approved hospital within the first 12 weeks, could grant citizenship to their children with the husband`s consent, and married women had the right to adopt children. 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". This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. The birth of a child in Tunisia is an important time in the life of the Tunisian family. Tunis is 68.82% less expensive than New York (without rent). Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team. For example, the first wife has to approve before her husband is allowed to remarry, he said. 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. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. All rights reserved. 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. "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. Inizia a scrivere il termine ricerca qua sopra e premi invio per iniziare la ricerca. 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. 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. 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. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. The group has urged the country's broadcast regulator to take the programme off the air. Both practices are punishable by up to a year in prison under the country's 1956 family code. 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. 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