Jordanian bloggers are currently talking about women’s rights in Jordan. Sweet! I like that. The reason for the interest in this issue now is because Jordan recently endorsed a United Nations convention eliminating discrimination against women — albeit with some reservations.
I’m not sure if this endorsement will really mean anything since Jordan did express some concern over clauses that related to the Personal Status Law, citizenship, housing and the free movement of women. I’m assuming that although Jordan endorsed the convention, Jordanian women are still unable to pass citizenship on to their children and will continue to receive half the share of inheritance compared to men [in accordance with Sharia Law, which, in this case, is applied to both Muslim and non-Muslim alike]. I hope I am mistaken.
While reading some of the comments on Roba’s blog, I was surprised to realize that "the law requires a married woman to obtain her husband’s permission to obtain a passport (see Section 2.d.)." Is there anyone out there who would like to make my day and tell me that this antiquated law is no longer enforced? Is this really the case? With all due respect, I see this type of legislation as the epitome of discrimination. Would I need my American husband’s permission to renew my Jordanian passport? I wonder.
Update: Nas just made my day. I do not need permission to get a passport thanks to Provisional Passport Law (No. 5 of 2003). Phew… This is from the Freedom House report on Jordan:
Jordanian law provides citizens the right to travel freely within the country and abroad except in designated military areas. Unlike Jordan’s previous law (No. 2 of 1969), the current Provisional Passport Law (No. 5 of 2003) does not require women to seek permission from their male guardians or husbands in order to renew or obtain a passport. Nevertheless, in several recent cases mothers reportedly could not depart abroad with their children because authorities complied with requests from fathers to prevent their children from leaving the country. Social norms continue to play a major role in maintaining restrictive measures on women’s freedom of movement.
Get real… to judge another culture based on your own narrow world-view and cultural bias is the height of arrogance. This is just basic common sense when it comes to cross cultural assessments. Feminism may be alive and not-so-well in Western society, but it is considered akin to mental illness in many non-westernized cultures.
Natasha,
I know you’ve written about this before, but check out the NY Times online today. There is an excellent video clip about Iraqi refugees in Jordan under the Video section about half way down the front page, or click on:
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=FRsupt209667
Ok Craig it is better to stop it because I can not afford time to reply you on your posters. Last thing:
You said “Muslims were also told they could take slaves freely from among their defeated enemies. And people were also made slaves as penance for sins. Slavery was quite common in Muslim lands all throughout Islam’s history. Some would say that it still is”
I am going to answer you through points:
1- Did Islam start slaving people or it was before Islam? I guess it was before Islam.
2- Once I asked an expert in Islam about why Islam allow for slaving during prophet life. He said. In that time, in the war people were taken as slaves when they captured through war. Thus Muslims had to use the same technique for scaring their enemies. Craig if someone punishes you with metal stick, will you reply to him by using plastic sticks. You have forgotten that Muslims were taken as slaves during the war.
3-If Islam call to slave people and take freedom from them, why sharia law impose rules to fee slave to wipe sins.
You said[What about deeds]…I don’t understand what you mean by this question.The verses was cleared .
I’ll skip the rest. I don’t really want to talk about religion. I’ve said I don’t know enough about Islam to argue with you about it. I don’t see much evidence of a lot of tolerance in the history of Islam, though. I’ll leave it at that. I am not talking here to convert you .But I and other are seeking to change the dark picture in west about Islam.
Peace brother
Ahmad,
Anyway I would like to add last thing about slavers .I challenge you if you could bring to me something in history calling to free slavers Before UK decided to prevent slavers trade two hundred years ago. In islam Muslims were told to free slavers for wiping sins before 1400 years.
You are arguing semantics. Muslims were told they should free some of their slaves as penances for some sins, yes. Muslims were also told they could take slaves freely from among their defeated enemies. And people were also made slaves as penance for sins. Slavery was quite common in Muslim lands all throughout Islam’s history. Some would say that it still is.
Islam can not claim any moral high ground on the issue of slavery.
“O men! We have created you from a single pair, a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of youâ€
Nice words. What about deeds? 🙂
I’ll skip the rest. I don’t really want to talk about religion. I’ve said I don’t know enough about Islam to argue with you about it. I don’t see much evidence of a lot of tolerance in the history of Islam, though. I’ll leave it at that.