A STUDY OF MUSLIM WOMEN’S RIGHT TO DIVORCE IN EGYPT AND INDIA

Abstract

Certain areas in Islamic laws are perceived to be incompatible when it comes to women’s rights and universal standards of gender equality. The thin line of distinction of oppression towards women in Muslim and non-Muslimcountries is that in Muslim countries, it is done in the name of Islam. Personal status laws in Islamic countries justify the discrimination meted towards women by claiming that these laws are based on the Sharia law, so the discrimination towards their women are hence in congruent with the Sharia law. In reality, the deterioration of women’s status in these countries have nothing to do with Islam, but rather the patriarchal interpretation of the sacred laws. The traditional male dominated societies try to dominate the women folks under the pretext of Islam. This paper will look into the aspects of divorce of Muslim women according to personal status laws in Egypt and India. The author will address how these personal laws affect the rights and freedom of the women who are subject to their purview.