Family Code: King Mohammed VI’s "ultimatum" ends today

The last revision of the Moudawana or Family Code in Morocco dates back to 2002 and had enshrined new rights for women. Progress deemed insufficient by feminists who, as part of this new revision, demand equality between men and women in matters of succession, the prohibition of polygamy and underage marriage, the guardianship of children, etc.

According to the Collective for Global and Profound Change of the Family Code, one of the associations consulted to prepare the reform, the Moudawana needs a thorough overhaul to restore equality between men and women. For example, the current Code, based on "sharia", provides that in matters of succession, the woman inherits half of what the man inherits and, in the case where she has no brothers, her share is given to her cousins or uncles.

Similarly, the current Code allows polygamy, provided that the first wife has given her consent, as well as the marriage of minors which can be celebrated with judicial authorization. According to the current Moudawana, only men have the right to enroll children in school, open a bank account for them, have them issued an identity document. Women need the authorization of the child’s father to undertake these administrative procedures.

To recall, King Mohammed VI had launched the reform of the Family Code on September 26 last, with the obligation for the government to propose a new text within a period of six months. The reform aims to guarantee women full access to their rights, in "perfect conformity" with Islamic law. The new text, whose content has not yet been made public, has sparked a lively debate between conservative Islamists and progressives. The government should present the new Code this Tuesday to King Mohammed VI.