12 August 2011

Australia must fight calls for sharia law

.... sharia family law is a pillar of women's oppression in countries under Islamic laws. And it often exists even when the penal code no longer applies.

Under sharia law's civil code, child custody reverts to the father at a preset age, even if the father is abusive. Women who remarry lose custody of their children even if the child has not reached the preset age and sons are entitled to inherit twice the share of daughters.

Also a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man's. A woman's marriage contract is between her male guardian and her husband, and a Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a non-Muslim. A man can have four wives and divorce his wife by simple repudiation, whereas a woman must give justifications for requesting a divorce, some of which are extremely difficult to prove. [The Australian] Read more