Rally for unified personal law

Dozens of Bahrain women staged a noisy demonstration yesterday at the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs calling for a unified personal status law and protesting an alleged abuse of authority by the judges of the Sharia Courts, who responded with a counter-demonstration.

The personal status law, which is still being drafted by the Supreme Council for the judiciary according to the principle of the Sharia, will be issued in two versions: one for the Sunnis and the other for the Shi'ites, to deal with family issues such as the marriage, the divorce and custody of the children.

Women's rights advocates demand a unified law that would be applied in civil courts instead of the Sharia Courts, in which the judges have the discretion to rule by their own interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence.

The Women's Committee, which consists of representatives of different women's groups, met the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs on September 24 and submitted a petition.

They are also calling for the "retirement of the current judges who have passed retirement age."

"Bahrain doesn't have a retirement age for judges and a law in this regard should be drafted," committee member Ghada Jamsheer told Gulf News. The women also asked for a 'divorcee fund' which would help divorcees and be used for housing and children's expenses .

"My husband pays me 150 Dinars a month which includes accommodation, electricity and water bills, schooling, clothing and food. How is that possible when the lowest flat available is for 90 Dinars," said a mother of two.

A number of judges from the Sharia Court released a statement as well, but they have stressed that they are representing themselves and not the court.

"We are against judging cases in the civil court because the cases follow the religion and should be judged in the Sharia Court," said Judge Ali bin Ahmed Al Jidhafsi.

"We are also against a unified personal status law because it unifies the Shiite and Sunni laws, whilst there are many differences between the two."

"Many clauses in the (proposed) personal status law aren't based on Islam; the law has been motivated by non-Islamic countries...."

Ghada hit back. "His Majesty the King (Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa) has modernised the politics of the country and Bahraini women have gotten their political rights; they now can vote and be nominated for office. Why not help the woman in her marital life?" she asked.

The committee has sent a plea to the King and his wife, Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women "to make the marriage bliss rather than eternal jail," Ghada said.

The current constitution which was introduced last February declares that "the religion of the kingdom is Islam, and the Sharia is a main source of legislation," but not 'the main' source, explains the women's committee.

But Al Jidhafsi said, "We also want a better life for women, but through the Islamic guidance. The cases can't be judged in civil courts but we agree that the offensive judges should be removed. If the women have any evidence against the judges then they should come forward."