Women’s groups call for action against pending family law
Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
00:28GMT—8:28PM/EST
WOMEN – IRAN – FAMILY – LAW
Washington, 11 August (IranVNC)—In a statement published yesterday, several of Iran’s women’s rights organizations called on other organizations and notable personalities to “join a coalition to stop the Majlis [parliament] from passing a new family protection law” which the statement calls an “anti-family law.”
Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi once again repeated that she would stage a sit-in at the Majlis if the new family protection law passes.
The proposed legislation, now under consideration by Iran’s parliament, modifies existing laws by eliminating the requirement that a Muslim man must have his wife’s consent before marrying a second wife, making it easier for men to marry multiple wives.
Islamic law permits a man to marry up to four wives. The proposed legislation also allows men to enter into temporary marriage contracts with as many women as they desire (siqeh). The Shiite doctrine to which Iran’s government adheres, permits temporary marriages, the terms of which are traditionally defined in a contract. The proposed legislation permits men to enter into these marriages without formally registering these marriages.
In their statement, women’s rights defenders denounced the legislation, saying: “The proposed law has given an official seal to the lack of rights of women in Iran and encourages multiple marriages for men solely on the grounds that they are financially capable [of supporting another wife]. This law does not deny men temporary marriages and even dismisses as unnecessary a requirement to register these marriages.”
Under the proposed legislation, as now, the custody of children is given to the father in case of divorce.
Websites such as changeforequality.com and feministschool.com published the statement.
Source: Change for Equality website
© IranVNC 2008. All rights reserved.
(Original article written in Persian.)