The Ulema Council of Ghazni province has issued a new decree stating that divorce of women should be prevented without “urgent and compelling necessity” in this province.
Recently, this council published a 15-article resolution regarding marriage, dowry, and women’s rights. The resolution states: “Of all that is permissible, divorce is the least favorable in Islam. However, it is only permissible in cases of necessity. Therefore, divorce should be avoided without urgent and compelling necessity.”
Article five of this resolution mentions that recently some individuals have compelled husbands to initiate “divorce by mutual consent” due to disobedience and opposition from their wives; however, the financial compensation for such a divorce is considered impermissible for men, and this unlawful practice should be prevented.
The Ghazni Ulema Council has stated that alongside the poor economic situation, the dowry for daughters has increased, causing difficulties for the people.
Furthermore, it is noted that this resolution has been issued to address the problems faced by the youth and to uphold the dignity of women.
Article one of the resolution states that the dowry is a woman’s legal right and must be given to her.
Article two specifies that excessive dowry leads to unlawful practices, and the Ulema Council and influential figures in each district should determine the appropriate amount of dowry based on the welfare of the people.
Additionally, article three emphasizes that the woman should be consulted in marriage, and her consent is necessary.
Articles seven and eight state that weddings must be conducted according to Sharia law, and any expenses beyond the dowry are prohibited, such as purchasing gifts or paying money.
Article nine asserts that a widow has the right to determine her dowry and can marry whomever she wishes.
The resolution further stipulates that marriage should not be replaced; if it is, a dowry must be specified for each party.
Moreover, article eleven states that shooting firearms or forcing a woman to wear a veil to compel her into an unlawful marriage is prohibited, and those who engage in such actions will face punishment.
The Ghazni Ulema Council has also prohibited the forced marriage of women.
In article fourteen of this council’s resolution, it is stated that if a woman is married off without her consent, the marriage is not valid.
Additionally, article fifteen bans shooting firearms, taking photographs, and filming at weddings; anyone caught engaging in these activities will be punished.
It is worth noting that the current government has imposed restrictions on women’s rights since its takeover of Afghanistan.
