King Mohammad VI "settled the dispute in favor of women" an NGO official said

By Mariam Al-Tigy, IOL Correspondent

RABAT , October 11 (IslamOnline.net) – King Mohammad VI of Morocco unveiled Friday, October 10, a number of substantive amendments to the Morocco 's personal status code, saying they have been designed for the well-being of all Moroccans.

He specified the amendments in 11 articles that provided, with regard to polygamy, for the right of a judge to ban polygamy unless a husband justifies his decision, proving he can do justice to his wives and treat them on equal footing.

The amendments, which are yet to be ratified by the parliament, state that a wife is entitled to introduce a condition in the marriage contract stipulating that the husband not to take another wife.

In case no such term is provided for, the first wife should approve her husband’s second marriage, while the judge should ensure that the second wife is not disgruntled with her husband's first marriage.

The first wife will, nevertheless, be entitled to ask for divorce.

The new set also gives a female consenting adult the right to marry herself or pass this right, out of her own volition, to her father or one of her other relatives.

Minimum Age 

The amendments fixed at 18 the minimum age of marriage for both men and women, granting judges the right to reduce it only in justified cases.

Fifteen-year-old teenagers also have to choose to be in the custody of either of their parents.

The new amendments said Moroccan expatriates who tie the knot abroad can now register their marriage contracts, at the presence of two Muslims, in Moroccan consulates.

Right Of Divorce

Such amendments extend a wife’s right to get divorce in case her husband violates any of the terms and conditions of the marriage contract, represented in desertion, domestic violence or other forms of injustice.

Consensual divorce has been also endorsed by the new modifications under the supervision of the country's litigation.

On children's rights, the amendments reiterated respect of relevant international agreements signed by Morocco .

They additionally stressed the right of child custody should first go to the mother, then the father, then the grandmother and finally next of kin.

The amendments also protect children's line of descent in case the marriage contract was not registered for circumstances beyond the parent's control.

Concerning the principle of a couple’s acquired money, the amendments provide for a separate agreement to be concluded between a husband and his wife to settle financial matters during their marriage.

Welcomed

Observers praised as "revolutionary" the amendments, which also hit headlines in Moroccan newspapers.

Speaking to IslamOnline.net, the official in charge of Feminist Equality Society in Morocco declined to "officially" comment on the amendments, saying  it was "too early to jump to conclusions."

Yet, she openly welcomed the amendments, adding that the Moroccan king "settled the dispute in favor of women."

Leaders of the Islamic-oriented Justice and Development party refused to speak to reporters, sufficing to say that this topic is still under discussion so long as the parliament have not passed the new set of articles.

But party official Abdullah Bankiran described as "positive" and "in line with Islam" the new amendments made to the country's Personal Status Code.