Jordanian women can appeal for divorce, raising marriage age
Jordan, Culture, 12/15/2001

The Jordanian King has approved amendments on the marital status law, prepared by the government, that permits the Jordanian woman to appeal for divorce.

This new amendment was met with great satisfaction in the Jordanian women circles. This measure was viewed by the Jordanian woman activist in the area of defending woman rights and member of the royal committee for human rights as " a positive step" towards giving the Jordanian woman all her due rights.

According to the amendments which were issued by the Jordanian dailies, if the woman says that if she says before the court she can not" live with her husband, the judge can divorce" for the Husband's not to pay any financial compensation.

The amendments also included " raising the age of marriage to 18 year as it was before 15 for women and 16 for men, besides notifying the first wife of the second marriage and notifying the second wife that the man has a previous marriage." The government in Jordan has prepared this amendment at a proposal made by the Royal committee for human rights which the Jordanian King order to be formed one and a half years ago. The committee includes women activists for defending women rights.

Jordanian political sources see that the government has invested the authorities given by the constitution in the absence of the parliament, which is known for its conservative attitude. The parliament was dissolved by the King last Summer in preparation to hold legislative elections in order to adopt several laws pertaining to women..

Also in this context, the government introduced recently an amendment on article 340 of the sanctions law which availed those who commit women crime in cases linked to " defending the honor" to get alleviated sentences. The Jordanian King approved this new amendment.

The Jordanian parliament refused by the end of 1999 a draft law proposed by the government to amend article 340 of the sanctions law. Then, members of the Jordanian parliaments considered the cancellation of this article will lead to " low morals in the society" while the government then justified its rejection to that individual persons will take their own revenge by their themselves.

Previous Stories:
  Jordanian princess appointed a good will ambassador at the UN   (12/14/2001)
  Jordan human rights report   (3/15/2001)
  A new crime of honor in Jordan   (5/19/2000)

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