Blow for Jordan Women
buzzbee | 05.08.2003 02:46 | Gender | London
The lower house of Jordan's newly-elected parliament has rejected a law which gave women in the kingdom the right to file for divorce.
Divorce blow for Jordan women
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3123661.stm
Women's groups had welcomed the divorce law
The lower house of Jordan's newly-elected parliament has rejected a law which gave women in the kingdom the right to file for divorce.
It was among 211 temporary laws introduced by the government since the previous parliament was dissolved two years ago.
The deputies passed the law on to the Senate for consideration.
Conservative critics said that allowing women to seek divorce without their husbands' consent was breaking up families.
"If it was up to me, women would be at home raising their children," said deputy Mahmoud Kharbasheh, quoted by the Jordan Times. He led calls for the law to be thrown out.
King Abdullah II had backed the law and Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb defended it in parliament, saying "we are all interested in giving people their due rights".
"This law was prepared in co-operation with all related parties - including clergy," the prime minister said.
It had also received strong support from women's groups in Jordan.
'Honour crimes'
The deputies referred 86 of the temporary laws to special committees, including a law on fixed rents, which some deputies believe could pave the way to selling land to Israelis, the AFP news agency reported.
JORDANIAN ELECTIONS
Population: 5.4m, with 2.84m voters
Parliament elected every four years
Seats: 110 - 92 Muslims; nine Christians; six women; three Circassians
Parliamentary sources quoted by AFP news agency said temporary legislation to tighten the penalties for crimes of "honour" was also rejected by deputies.
Honour killings are usually carried out by male relatives of women who are believed to have besmirched the family's reputation by their sexual behaviour.
Independent candidates loyal to King Abdullah won a convincing victory in parliamentary elections in June.
They won two-thirds of the 110 parliamentary seats, while the main Islamist opposition party won 17 of the 30 seats it contested.
The poll was the first to be held under King Abdullah, who dissolved the last parliament two years ago.
For the most part, independent candidates represent the country's major tribes and clans which are traditionally close to the royal family and form the bedrock of Jordanian society.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3123661.stm Women's groups had welcomed the divorce law
The lower house of Jordan's newly-elected parliament has rejected a law which gave women in the kingdom the right to file for divorce.
It was among 211 temporary laws introduced by the government since the previous parliament was dissolved two years ago.
The deputies passed the law on to the Senate for consideration.
Conservative critics said that allowing women to seek divorce without their husbands' consent was breaking up families.
"If it was up to me, women would be at home raising their children," said deputy Mahmoud Kharbasheh, quoted by the Jordan Times. He led calls for the law to be thrown out.
King Abdullah II had backed the law and Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb defended it in parliament, saying "we are all interested in giving people their due rights".
"This law was prepared in co-operation with all related parties - including clergy," the prime minister said.
It had also received strong support from women's groups in Jordan.
'Honour crimes'
The deputies referred 86 of the temporary laws to special committees, including a law on fixed rents, which some deputies believe could pave the way to selling land to Israelis, the AFP news agency reported.
JORDANIAN ELECTIONS
Population: 5.4m, with 2.84m voters
Parliament elected every four years
Seats: 110 - 92 Muslims; nine Christians; six women; three Circassians
Parliamentary sources quoted by AFP news agency said temporary legislation to tighten the penalties for crimes of "honour" was also rejected by deputies.
Honour killings are usually carried out by male relatives of women who are believed to have besmirched the family's reputation by their sexual behaviour.
Independent candidates loyal to King Abdullah won a convincing victory in parliamentary elections in June.
They won two-thirds of the 110 parliamentary seats, while the main Islamist opposition party won 17 of the 30 seats it contested.
The poll was the first to be held under King Abdullah, who dissolved the last parliament two years ago.
For the most part, independent candidates represent the country's major tribes and clans which are traditionally close to the royal family and form the bedrock of Jordanian society.
buzzbee