Iranian women condemn "regressive" articles of family legislation

Radio Zamaneh

Head of Iran's Society of Progressive Muslim Women called an emergency meeting to discuss the controversial Family Protection bill which is currently passing through Iranian parliament.

Kaleme reports that the meeting organized by Fatemeh Rakei, secretary general of the Society of Progressive Muslim Women, was attended by professional women from different walks of life.

Articles 22, 23 and 24 of the proposed family protection bill have drawn the protest of various women's groups.

These articles focus on legal registration of temporary marriages, taxing women's lump sum alimony (mehrieh) and dropping the legal conditions that have to be satisfied before men can engage in polygamy.

Fatemeh Rakei emphasized that the ratification of these articles will lead to "family instability and social dysfunction."

Zahra Rahnavard spoke of the importance of coordinating the Islamic worldview with modern society and aiming for monogamous families.

She went on to criticize the introduction of a family protection bill that is more regressive than the family protection bill that was approved over 35 years ago.

The new family protection bill was introduced to the parliament three years ago but protests from women have so far delayed its ratification