Although this case in particular has received much attention in the Egyptian press and abroad, it is important to note that it is not at all unique. In fact, there are roughly 14,000 similar paternity suits currently being processed by the courts.
Egyptian women's experience of new khol provisions, as discussed in this book, act not only as a future warning for those seeking to expand women's access to divorce in other Muslim contexts. It also confirms what legal rights activists in Pakistan have known for many years since case law firmly established khol as a right available to the wife without the husband's permission in 1967.
A precedent setting ruling by a local court in Zambia has given women married under customary law the right to a share of marital property in the event of a divorce or death of the husband.
With Canada scrapping the traditional definition of marriage to allow same-sex marriage, it is understandable that some people are now arguing that it is time to legally recognize polygamy.
Maha al Douri took a radical stance when she decided to run for a seat in the Iraqi Parliament in December. The 36-year-old candidate on a minor Shiite Muslim slate put her face on campaign posters - and succeeded in raising eyebrows around the country.
We have received the following call for action from friends in Canada who ask that we write letters to Dr. Martha Bailey protesting her recommendation that the Federal Government of Canada remove Section 293 from the Criminal Code of Canada, thus, decriminalizing polygamy in Canada.
A new study for the federal Justice Department says Canada should get rid of its law banning polygamy and change other legislation to help women and children living in such multiple-spouse relationships.
