A Jordanian woman won the right to divorce her husband on grounds she "hates" him, in the first such court ruling since an amendment to the law, Al-Arab Al-Yawm daily reported Monday.
Alike the majority of Islamic countries, Jordan's civil code only allowed men to file for divorce, however the amendment in December approved by Jordan’s King Abdullah II gave women the same privilege, as long as they abandon claims for financial compensation.
The unidentified divorcee had been married for a period of three years to a man she claimed she "hated" and filed for divorce after December, the newspaper reported.
The court tried to reconcile the couple, however finally bowed to the woman's request according to the amended legislation after she agreed to give up her rights to financial compensation.
This included a "dowry" she had received from the husband at the time of their marriage, the newspaper said.
The amended law stated that the judge would order a divorce if the woman attests that "she can no longer live with her husband".
The changes were based on a proposal by a royal human rights commission established in the year 2000 by King Abdullah, who pledged to improve the status of women throughout the kingdom after he took the throne in February 1999.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter, on Sunday, a Jordanian woman and her Egyptian lover were both hanged after being convicted of murdering the woman's husband two years ago, Jordan Times reported.
Ibtisam Ahmad, who had repeatedly asked for a divorce but was denied, stabbed her spouse and suffocated him to death with the help of her lover, Ibrahim Othman, the report revealed. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
