Women of the north African Arab state of Morocco have reached a parliamentary milestone. And in nearby Algeria, family law revisions may have been made in a effort to encourage women to vote, but are opposed by Islamic fundamentalists.
Arabicnews.com reported this week that the lower chamber of the Moroccan parliament (the House of Representatives) was chaired Wednesday by second deputy-speaker Fatna El-Kihel. It was the first time that a woman chaired a parliamentary session in Morocco, according to the website. Another woman, MP Milouda Hazib, was elected Secretary of the House. “El Kihel was welcomed by warm applauds from her fellow male representatives,” Arabicnews reported.
The website noted that there are 35 women in the Moroccan parliament, out of 325 members.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Algeria, a family law that is based on Islamic shari’a is allegedly under review for revision. The law in question, adopted in 1984 under the rule of the National Liberation Front, Algeria’s only party, defines women as “immature for life” and obliges them to stay under the “control of [a] man.”
The proposal for revisions, however, are being greeted in Algeria with cynicism and women’s rights groups in the country are demanding the total abolition of the law in question, Arabicnews reported this week. Presidential elections are due for spring 2004 and many Algerian commentators view the discussion of revisions as an attempt to get women out to vote, as they abstain from voting in large percentages. As the Algerian daily al-Watan put it, on its front page, “Women - An Election Link”. Islamist elements in the electorate oppose altering the law’s central features altogether, even though the central elements relating to polygamy and divorce are to remain intact, according to Algerian officials.
Arabicnews reported that local “women defense societies... call for the end of what they called ‘the shame law.’” In fact, according to the website, “Several female teachers in one secondary school” indicated, anonymously, that if the law is revised, but stays “in compliance with the Islamic shari’a”, then “they will not change any of the enforced norms and principles, which constitute the major obstacle to [the] liberation of any woman.”
Arabicnews.com reported this week that the lower chamber of the Moroccan parliament (the House of Representatives) was chaired Wednesday by second deputy-speaker Fatna El-Kihel. It was the first time that a woman chaired a parliamentary session in Morocco, according to the website. Another woman, MP Milouda Hazib, was elected Secretary of the House. “El Kihel was welcomed by warm applauds from her fellow male representatives,” Arabicnews reported.
The website noted that there are 35 women in the Moroccan parliament, out of 325 members.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Algeria, a family law that is based on Islamic shari’a is allegedly under review for revision. The law in question, adopted in 1984 under the rule of the National Liberation Front, Algeria’s only party, defines women as “immature for life” and obliges them to stay under the “control of [a] man.”
The proposal for revisions, however, are being greeted in Algeria with cynicism and women’s rights groups in the country are demanding the total abolition of the law in question, Arabicnews reported this week. Presidential elections are due for spring 2004 and many Algerian commentators view the discussion of revisions as an attempt to get women out to vote, as they abstain from voting in large percentages. As the Algerian daily al-Watan put it, on its front page, “Women - An Election Link”. Islamist elements in the electorate oppose altering the law’s central features altogether, even though the central elements relating to polygamy and divorce are to remain intact, according to Algerian officials.
Arabicnews reported that local “women defense societies... call for the end of what they called ‘the shame law.’” In fact, according to the website, “Several female teachers in one secondary school” indicated, anonymously, that if the law is revised, but stays “in compliance with the Islamic shari’a”, then “they will not change any of the enforced norms and principles, which constitute the major obstacle to [the] liberation of any woman.”