http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/01-02-2008/103821-Saudi_Arabia-0
02/01/2008 09:57
Will Saudi Arabia end polygamy practice?
By Anastasia Tomazhenkova: A U.N. committee on women's rights claimed
that polygamy in Saudi Arabia ran counter to the principle of equality between
the sexes. The committee asked Saudi Arabia to end this practice.
Will Saudi Arabia stop polygamy?
U.N. Committee made a nine-page report on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women with nonbinding recommendation, which last month
invited Saudi officials to discuss the kingdom's compliance with a U.N. charter
on women's rights that the country ratified in 2000.
The committee claimed the kingdom should introduce a minimum age of
marriage, end the custom of male guardianship for women and take steps to
eliminate violence against females.
The situation of women in Saudi Arabia came under renewed international
scrutiny last year when a rape victim was sentenced to lashes and jail time for
being in a car with a man who was not her relative. The woman was later
pardoned by Saudi's King Abdullah.
Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic law gives men and women
different rights with respect to education, marriage and participation in
public life.
Not all of the restrictions are based on formal laws, but customs such as
the prohibition on women driving are nevertheless widespread for cultural
reasons.
Saudi officials told the committee last month that the kingdom was taking
measures to address numerous issues, from domestic violence to promoting
education and job opportunities for women.
But the officials said the country would not be able to adhere to a
number of aspects of the U.N. charter because they run contrary to Islamic
Sharia law, which is the basis of all legislation in the country.
Under Sharia law, men are permitted to have up to four wives, and gay
relationships are forbidden.
The U.N. panel said Saudi Arabia should clarify whether it accepts that
international law takes precedence over domestic legislation, and ensure that
the protection of women is firmly enshrined in the country's constitution and
everyday court decisions.
The U.N. special investigator for violence against women, Yakin Erturk,
is due to visit the kingdom from Feb. 4-13 to gather information about violence
against women in the country
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