THEMATIC REPORT ON MUSLIM FAMILY LAW AND MUSLIM WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN SAUDI ARABIA 69th CEDAW Session Geneva, Switzerland February 2018 Musawah 15 Jalan Limau Purut, Bangsar Park, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +603 2083 0202 Fax: +603 2202 0303 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.musawah.org TABLE OF CONTENTS A. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………..……………………..3 B. LEGAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................................... 4 C. KEY ISSUES, LIVED REALITIES, ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENE AND REFORM ............. 8 1. The Male Guardianship System ...................................................................................... 8 2. Reciprocity of rights in marriage .................................................................................... 12 3. Women's consent and capacity to enter into marriage ................................................. 15 4. Early and child marriage ............................................................................................... 17 5. Polygamy ...................................................................................................................... 19 5. Divorce rights ............................................................................................................... 21 6. Custody and guardianship of children .......................................................................... 24 7. Violence against women ............................................................................................... 26