WOMEN AND THE LAW IN JORDAN: Islam as a Path to Reform West Asia-North Africa Institute, October 2016 All content of this publication was produced by research fellow Annalisa Bezzi. This publication was generously funded by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and The Jordanian National Commission for Women. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE The information in this publication may not be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from the WANA Institute. For permission to reproduce the information in this publication, please contact the WANA Institute Communi- cations Department at [email protected]. Published by the WANA Institute, Royal Scientific Society in Amman, Jordan. Cover design: Lena Kassicieh, Head of Communications Interior design: WANA Institute and The Economic Press Co Editing: Dr Erica Harper and Lena Kassicieh, WANA Institute Printed in Amman, Jordan © 2016 WANA Institute. All rights reserved. © 2016 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. All rights reserved. Manufactured in Jordan The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) was established as a national machinery to promote women’s status in Jordan in accordance with the cabinet’s decision no 21/11/3382 in 1992. Chaired by HRH Princess Basma bint Talal, the Commission’s board includes representation of rel- evant ministers, civil society organisations and the private sector. JNCW seeks to ensure that Jordan complies with its national, Arab and international commitments, which aim at improving women’s status and their participation in sustainable development. On September 21, 1996, the Jordanian cabinet designated JNCW as a national reference for all official entities and a representative of the Kingdom in all women-related issues and activities. The Commis- sion’s tasks and responsibilities were identified along the following key themes: Mainstreaming women’s issues and needs in national strategies, policies, legislation, plans and budgets. Monitoring discrimination against women and progress vis-à-vis equality and equal opportunities. Advocacy for women’s issues and raising awareness on their role and participation in national sustain- able development. Since 1993, JNCW leads the process of preparing National Strategy for Women. JNCW has adopted a participatory method to review and update the strategy. The current National Strategy for Women (2013 – 2017) was endorsed by the cabinet in 2013. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a non-profit organisation committed to the values of social de- mocracy and is the oldest of Germany’s political foundations. Founded in 1925, it is the political legacy of Friedrich Ebert, Germany’s first democratically elected President. In Jordan, FES opened its office in 1986 and is accredited through a long-standing partnership with the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). Since 2004, the Amman Office also coordinates the activities of FES in Iraq. In addition, it has been hosting FES’ Regional Program on Energy and Climate Policy since 2014. The aims of the activities of FES Amman are to promote democracy and political participation, to sup- port progress towards social justice and gender equality as well as to contribute to ecological sustainabil- ity and peace and security in the region. FES Amman supports the building and strengthening of civil society and public institutions in Jordan and Iraq. FES Amman cooperates with a wide range of partner institutions from civil society and the political sphere to establish platforms for democratic dialogue, organise conferences, hold workshops and publish policy papers on current political questions. Table of Contents Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................3 1.Islam.............................................................................................................................................................4 1.1 Shari’a........................................................................................................................................................5 1.2 The Sources Of Shar’ia........................................................................................................................6 1.3 The Major Schools Of Islamic Jurisprudence (Madhhab)..............................................................9 1.4 Shari’a And The State............................................................................................................................10 2. Basic Legal Principles In Islam...............................................................................................................13 2.1 Justice And Equality Before The Law..............................................................................................13 2.2 Freedom................................................................................................................................................14 2.3 Human Dignity......................................................................................................................................15 3. Gender And Islam...................................................................................................................................17 3.1 Gender Equality And Protection As Fundamental Tenets Of Islam...........................................19 3.2 Scholars’ Explanations For Gender Discrimination Under Islam...............................................20 3.3 Further Explanations For Gender Discriminatory Provisions Rooted In Islam.......................22 3.4 The Influence Of Islam On Modern Laws Regulating Personal Status.....................................23 3.5 Paths Forward........................................................................................................................................24 4. Jordanian Laws And Women Rights....................................................................................................25 4.1 Violence Against Women...................................................................................................................26 4.2 Custody..................................................................................................................................................33 4.3 Early Marriage......................................................................................................................................39 4.4 Paternity..................................................................................................................................................40 4.5 Inheritance And Property...................................................................................................................41 4.6 Summary................................................................................................................................................43 5. The Cases Of Tunisia And Morocco....................................................................................................44 5.1 Tunisia..................................................................................................................................................44 5.2 Morocco...............................................................................................................................................48 6. Central Findings: Towards A Strengthened Legal Protection Framework For Wom- en....................................................................................................................................................................53 6.1 Modalities For Law Reform Through Ijtihad.................................................................................54 6.2 The Role Of Judges And Other Religious Actors.........................................................................56 6.3 The Role Of Lawyers And Women’s Legal Services....................................................................57 6.4 Legal Literacy And The Role Of Civil Society...............................................................................57 6.5 Extra-Legal Approaches....................................................................................................................59 6.6 The Customary Justice System.........................................................................................................59 7. Concluding Remarks................................................................................................................................60 Table 1: Jordanian Laws Pertaining Violence Against Women.............................................................61 Table 2: Jordanian Laws Pertaining Child’s Custody................................................................................64 Table 3: Jordanian Laws Pertaining Early Marriage................................................................................65 Table 4: Jordanian Laws Pertaining To The Right To Paternity.............................................................67 Table 5: Jordanian Laws Pertaining Women’s Rights To Inheritance And Property...........................68 Bibliography.................................................................................................................................................69 1 www.wanainstitute.org List Of Foreign Terms Aya: Qur’anic verse. evaluation of Islamic law. A mujtahid must Fuqaha: Islamic jurists. have an extensive knowledge of Arabic, the Fatwa: Legal opinion issued by jurists, usu- Qur’an,