Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Bahrain: Women seek better deal

TEN Bahraini women caught up in divorce wrangles and other domestic disputes demonstrated outside parliament yesterday, asking MPs to intervene and protect women's rights in Sharia courts.

Campaigner Amal Juma Abdulla led them in the demonstration coinciding with parliament's weekly session.

"We want to be the voice of all Bahraini women facing problems in courts.

"We respect our Islamic laws and our judges, we are only asking for our rights and nothing else."

MPs Hassan Sultan and Hussain Jassim met the women during their hour-and-a-half demonstration and were given a letter from Ms Abdulla.

"Mr Sultan told us he will present the letter at the session. He was very sympathetic about our cases and said these issue were well-known," said Ms Abdulla.

"I think if it is well-known, why don't they fix the law or implement some serious changes that can help us."

The letter highlighted various issues, including delayed hearings and alleged bias in favour of men.

In the letter, the women called for the intervention of the country's leadership.

Ms Abdulla has already met Supreme Judicial Council deputy head and Cassation Court head Shaikh Khalifa bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry assistant under-secretary for court and notary affairs Judge Khaled Agagi to explain the issues they were trying to raise.

By BASMA MOHAMMED, Gulf Daily News

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