The New Law for Muslim Women by�rabra Fiedor

The article is devoted to the problem of divorces in Islamic countries. The example of Azza, who was unexpectedly abandoned by her husband, is a classical scenario in Islamic reality. Man, according to Islam religious law may have more that one wife and can divorce his spouse uttering three times: “talaq”, which means “I divorce you”. After doing it he is no longer obliged to provide for his previous family, unless the court (usually after many years or never) makes him to. During the lawsuit women seek for help in special women's legal aid centers, otherwise they would not manage to survive. So far women were allowed to apply for separation only when spouse maltreated them. Nowadays, the new law has been introduced in Egypt. Namely, if a woman wishes to dissociate herself form her husband, she must renounce marriage settlements and all economic demands. Some orthodox Muslims claim that this will prompt women to terminate marriages, while the authorities alleviate their fears saying that women will not be able to meet those conditions. The Cairo University dean summarises this clash saying: “It is not a law that will destroy the family, but men's behaviour”.