Middle East Focus: Women of the Middle East: Half a Man, at Least, at Most……….

Arabia Deserta

Women of the Middle East: Half a Man, at Least, at Most……….

Walking on water

“Democratic change in Arab nations is long overdue. According to Freedom in the World, the global assessment of political rights and civil liberties issued annually by Freedom House, none of the countries or territories included in this survey has earned a rating of "Free," and none qualifies as a democracy…… Women do not enjoy the same citizenship and nationality rights as do men in MENA countries. This particular form of inequality can have a serious effect on the choice of marriage partner. Under the citizenship laws of MENA countries, a man can marry a woman from outside the country with the knowledge that his spouse can take on the citizenship and nationality rights he enjoys. By contrast, a woman who marries a foreigner cannot pass on her citizenship and nationality to her male spouse. Furthermore, with the exception of Tunisia and Egypt, a woman who marries a foreigner cannot pass on her citizenship and nationality rights to her children. Such children must acquire special residency permits, renewable annually, in order to attend public school, qualify for university scholarships, and find employment. In the UAE, the law requires a woman to surrender her UAE citizenship if she marries a man who is not a citizen of a Gulf state………..”

A recent international study on the status of women concludes that Egypt and Jordan are at the top of the list of countries that discriminate the most. Many Arab countries are signatories to the international Convention to End discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Sweden has the least discrimination.
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