Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 18-03-2017
As the country gears up to celebrate Human Rights Day on 21 March, Muslim women are calling on government to recognize their marriages.
ENCA reports that scores of Muslim women gathered outside the Western Cape High Court today in support of a case brought by the Women’s Legal Centre in 2014.
President Jacob Zuma, Parliament and several others cited as respondents are opposing the matter.
The Women’s Legal Centre Director Seehaam Samaai told the news channel that the call for law reform has fallen on deaf ears.
“Religious marriages in South Africa is still being recognized which has a disproportionate effect on Muslim women, Hindu women, Jewish women or women married in religious marriages.”
Samaai say they face a number of challenges.
“The challenge that we have is that these women don’t have the same protections of women married in civil marriages.”
Samaai adds that while many Muslim women turn to the courts for help, some organizations in the Muslim community are opposing the case calling it “unconstitutional” saying it targets Islam and ignores issues of gender equality facing other religions.
The matter returns to court in August.
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