PERSONAL
LAWS:
In many Muslim countries, including
those which call themselves Islamic states, family laws have
been revised in respect of minimum age of marriage, polygamy,
divorce, maintenance etc:
Algeria:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Maliki school is the predominant madhhab in Algeria.
There is an Ibadi minority.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The current Constitution was adopted on 19th
November 1976 and has been amended several times, with the last
revisions approved by referendum in November and signed into law
in December 1996. Article 2 of the Constitution provides that
Islam is the religion of the State.
Family laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 21 years for men and 18 for women,
with scope for judicial discretion if necessity or benefit is
established. Compulsion by the marriage guardian, whether the
wali is the father or anyone else, is expressly
forbidden, as is giving a woman into marriage without her
consent.]
-
On polygamy, classical injunctions regarding
the equal treatment of co-wives are reiterated, with the
additional proviso that the reason for contracting a
polygamous marriage must be justified. It is not stated
exactly how a ‘just reason’ is defined. Prior notification of
existing and future wives is required by the law. Any wife in
a polygamous union may initiate legal action against her
husband in case of harm (darar) or petition for divorce
if her consent was not obtained.
-
Divorce is
only established by a judgement of the court, and must be
preceded by reconciliation efforts by the judge. Efforts at
reconciliation are not to exceed three months.
-
If the
wife is granted custody of the children, the husband must
provide for their accommodation in keeping with his means. A
divorcée is entitled to maintenance during her waiting period,
a provision adapted from the Hanafi school.
Bangladesh:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Hanafi school is the predominant madhhab in
Bangladesh.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The Constitution was adopted on 4 November 1972. An amendment to
the Constitution under President Ziaur Rahman in 1977 removed
the principle of secularism that had been enshrined in Part II:
Fundamental State Policy, replacing it with "absolute trust and
faith in Almighty Allah." The Eighth Amendment of 1988 inserted
Article 2A, affirming that "[t]he state religion of the Republic
is Islam, but other religions may be practised in peace and
harmony in the republic." Some women’s groups challenged this
move on the grounds that it risked exposing women to
discriminatory laws.
Family laws:
-
As
elsewhere in South Asia, much of the Muslim personal law is
unlegislated, the basis for the law being classical Hanafi
fiqh except where this has been amended by legislation.
-
The minimum ages of marriage are 21 for men and
18 for women. The legislation provides penal sanctions for
those who knowingly participate in the contracting of an
under-age marriage, but does not invalidate such marriages.
-
The Muslim
Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act 1974 enacted to
strengthen the inducements for civil registration states that
"every marriage solemnised under Muslim law shall be
registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act" and
establishes the licensing of Nikah Registrars. The
punishment for not registering a marriage is a prison sentence
and/or a fine.
-
The
Bangladeshi Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, based on the
Pakistani MFLO of 1961, has incorporated some amendments to
the original legislation. This includes the application
process for contracting polygamous marriages, the application
process itself remaining the same (i.e., requiring the reasons
for wanting to contract a polygamous marriage and
certification attesting to the existing wife’s or wives’
consent).
Egypt:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Hanafi school is the predominant school of fiqh.
Earlier on, Egypt was the home of the Shafi’i school and under
the Fatimids, the ruling classes were Isma’ili.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):Article
2 of the Constitution that was adopted on 11 September 1971 and
amended by referendum in May 1980 reads in full: "Islam is the
religion of the State and Arabic its official language. Islamic
jurisprudence is the principal source of legislation."
Family laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 18 for males and 16 for females (lunar
calendar). Registration of marriage is compulsory.
-
Polygamy
is permissible only with notification of the existing and
intended wives. The existing wife may obtain a judicial
dissolution on grounds of material or moral harm up to one
year from the date of her knowledge of her husband’s
polygamous union if such harm makes cohabitation as husband
and wife impossible.
-
Talaq
expressed indirectly, while intoxicated or under coercion, or
conditionally with the intent of forcing the taking of some
action has no effect. A talaq to which a number is
added verbally or by gesture is effective only as a single and
revocable talaq, except for the third of three… A
written and notarised certification of talaq must be
produced within thirty days of repudiation and the notary must
forward a copy of the certificate to the wife.
-
A divorcée repudiated by her husband without
cause or consent on her part is entitled to maintenance during
her ‘idda and compensation (mut’a al-talaq) of
at least two years’ maintenance (with consideration for the
husband’s means, the circumstances of the divorce, and the
length of the marriage); no upper limit for compensation is
stipulated. Maintenance claims for the ‘idda period can
be heard up to one year from the date of the divorce. A
divorcing husband must provide independent accommodation for
his former wife who has custody of their minor children.
India:
Schools of Fiqh: The predominant madhhab is the
Hanafi, with sizeable Shafi’i, Ja’fari and Isma’ili minorities.
India’s minority religious communities also include Sikhs, Jains,
Buddhists, Christians and Jews.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law): The Indian
Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949 and
has been amended many times. The preamble of the Constitution
affirms that India is a "sovereign socialist secular democratic
republic".
Family laws:
-
With the exception of some enactments, most of
the personal law applicable to Indian Muslims is uncodified
and administered by state courts on the basis of Indo-Muslim
judicial precedents. With one exception, the legislation
regulating Islamic family law dates from the period of British
colonial rule.
-
The Muslim Personal Law (Shari’at)
Application Act 1937 directs the application of Muslim
Personal Law to Muslims in a number of different areas mainly
related to family law.
-
Muslim personal law is applied
by the regular court system. As the majority of Muslims are
Hanafi, courts presume that litigants are Hanafi unless the
contrary is established.
-
As the Act currently stands in India (amended
by Act 2 of 1978), the minimum marriage age is 21 for men and
18 for women. However, as registration is not compulsory in
India, and as the Act does not instruct the dissolution of
under-age marriages, such unions are not rendered invalid.
-
The Registration of Muhammedan
Marriages and Divorces Act 1876 is still in operation in Bihar
and West Bengal. Other states of the federation also have
similar Acts, and there are facilities for voluntary
registration. However, registration is not a requirement in
India.
-
With regard to polygamy, the
Criminal Procedure Code establishes that a woman who refuses
to live with her husband on just grounds will still be
entitled to maintenance and those just grounds, as defined in
the Code, include the contracting of a polygamous marriage by
the husband, even if the personal law applicable to the
parties permits polygamy. This proviso only actually applies
to Muslims as polygamy has been abolished for all other
communities.
-
The Muslim husband retains the
right to repudiate his wife extra-judicially, and from the
available sources it appears that the most common form of
divorce is the triple talaq. The stance of the pre- and
post-independence courts has generally been to accept
extra-judicial repudiation as "good in law, bad in theology".
Indonesia:
Schools of Fiqh:
The majority of the population is Shafi’i Muslim. There are also
Ahmadi minorities. The other recognised religious minorities are
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu and Buddhist. There are also
significant minorities following tribal religions; they are not
afforded any official recognition.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The Constitution was promulgated in August 1945.
It does not adopt any official religion, but Article 29(1)
provides that "the State is based upon the belief in the One,
Supreme God", also embodied in the Pancasila. Article 29(2)
guarantees freedom of religion.
Family laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 19 for males and 16 for females, with
provision for marriage below the minimum age, subject to
judicial discretion and parental consent.
-
Marriage
registration is obligatory; the Marriage Registrar Office of
the Department of Religious Affairs is responsible for the
registration of Muslim marriages and the Civil Marriage
Registrar Office of the Department of Internal Affairs for all
other marriages.
-
The basis
of marriage is considered monogamy, but the Marriage Law does
not prohibit polygamy for those religions that allow it
(Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism). Polygamy is permissible with the
consent of the existing wife or wives and with judicial
permission, by fulfilling conditions specified by law, i.e.,
proof of financial capacity, safeguards that husband will
treat wives and children equally; and a court inquiry into the
validity of the reasons for wishing to contract a polygamous
marriage (e.g., the existing wife’s physical disfigurement,
infertility, incurable disease).
-
The law
specifies that both spouses are equal and both are responsible
for maintaining the home and caring for children.
-
The
Marriage Law provides that divorce shall be carried out only
before a Court of Law, after the Court has endeavoured to
reconcile the parties. A husband married under Islamic law may
submit a letter notifying the religious court of his intention
to divorce and giving his reasons. If the husband’s reasons
accord with any of the six grounds for judicial divorce
outlined in the Marriage Law and the court determines that
reconciliation is not possible, the court will grant a session
in order to witness the divorce. Either spouse may seek a
judicial divorce (preceded by reconciliation efforts by the
judge) on specified grounds.
-
Property
acquired during marriage is considered joint property,
although the Marriage Law only directs that division is
according to the law applicable to the parties.
Iran:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Ja’fari school is the predominant madhhab in Iran.
There are also Hanafi Muslim minorities, as well as Zoroastrian,
Baha’i, Christian and Jewish minorities. The officially
recognised religions are Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism,
and various Christian denominations. Under a 1933 law relating
to the rights of non-Shi’i Iranians, courts are to apply the
personal status laws applicable to the litigants belonging to
officially recognised religions.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The current Constitution was adopted on 2nd-3rd
December 1979, with significant revisions expanding presidential
powers and eliminating the prime ministership in 1989. Article 4
provides that all civil, penal, financial, economic,
administrative, cultural, military, political, and any other
laws must be based on Islamic criteria. Article 12 provides that
the official state religion is Islam and the twelver Ja’fari
school; other schools of law are to be accorded full respect and
freedom of religious practice, including matters of personal
status.
Family laws:
-
The Civil
Code provides that marriage before puberty is invalid unless
authorised by the natural guardian. When authorized before
puberty, minimum age is nine.
-
The
Identity Office must be notified of all temporary or permanent
marriages and their dissolution. Temporary marriage is
permitted, and must be for fixed time period.
-
Polygamy
is permitted.
-
A
12-article law on marriage and divorce passed in 1986 allows
the wife the right to obtain a divorce if the husband marries
without her permission or does not treat co-wives equitably in
the court’s assessment.
-
Talaq
is governed by classical Shi’i law, requiring a specific
formula and two male witnesses. A conditional formula of
divorce is invalid. 1992 amendments provide that registration
of divorce without a court certificate is illegal.
Iraq:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Ja’fari and Hanafi are the predominant schools in Iraq.
There are also Christian and small Jewish and Yezidi minorities.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The provisional constitution was adopted on 22nd
September 1968 and came into effect from 16th July
1970. Article 4 of the current provisional constitution declares
Islam the state religion. (A new constitution was drafted in
1990 but was not adopted.)
Family Laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 18 for men and women; judicial
permission for under-age marriages may be granted at 15 years
if fitness, physical capacity and guardian’s consent (unless
the guardian’s objection is considered unreasonable) are
established.
-
Polygamy
is only permitted by judicial permission, obtainable on two
conditions; the husband must show some lawful benefit and
financial ability to support more than one wife. Permission is
not to be granted if the judge fears unequal treatment of
co-wives. The ILPS provides penalties of imprisonment and/or
fines for non-compliance
-
Talaq
must be confirmed by the Shari’a Court’s judgement or
registered with the Court during the ‘idda period.
Talaq by a man who is intoxicated, insane, feeble-minded,
under coercion, enraged (madhush), or seriously ill or
in death sickness is ineffective, as is talaq that is
not immediate or is conditional or in the form of an oath. All
talaqs are deemed single and revocable except the third
of three.
Pakistan:
Schools of Fiqh:
The predominant madhhab is the Hanafi, and there are
sizeable Ja’fari and Isma’ili minorities. In 1974, then-Prime
Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto finally conceded to a long-standing
campaign waged by conservative religious elements agitating for
the official designation of Ahmadis as non-Muslims.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The third Constitution was adopted on 10th
April 1973, suspended in 1977, and re-instituted in 1985; it has
undergone numerous amendments over time. It was suspended again
in 1999 and remained suspended at the time of writing.
Article 1
of the Constitution declares that Pakistan shall be known as
"the Islamic Republic of Pakistan" and Article 2 declares Islam
the state religion. In 1985, the Objectives Resolution contained
in the preamble of the Constitution was made a substantive
provision by the insertion of Article 2A, thereby requiring all
laws to be brought into consonance with the Qur’an and sunnah.
Family laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age as the Act currently stands is 18 for
males and 16 for females. Despite the provision of penalties
for contracting under-age marriages, such unions are not
rendered invalid.
-
The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961
introduced reforms to various aspects of the classical law.
The reforms concern the registration of marriage and divorce,
inheritance rights of orphaned grandchildren, restrictions on
polygamy, consideration of every talaq (except the
third of three) as single and revocable, formalisation of
reconciliation procedures in disputes relating to maintenance
or dissolution of marriage, and recovery of mahr, along
with specified penalties for non-compliance. The MFLO
introduced marriage registration and provides for penalties of
fines or imprisonment for failure to register.
-
The MFLO
also instituted some limited reforms in the law relating to
polygamy, with the introduction of the requirement that the
husband must submit an application and pay a fee to the local
Union Council in order to obtain prior written permission for
contracting a polygamous marriage. The application must state
the reasons for the proposed marriage and indicate whether the
applicant has obtained the consent of the existing wife or
wives. The chairman of the Union Council forms an Arbitration
Council with representatives of the existing wife or wives and
the applicant in order to determine the necessity of the
proposed marriage. The penalty for contracting a polygamous
marriage without prior permission is that the husband must
immediately pay the entire dower to the existing wife or wives
as well as being subject to a fine and/or imprisonment; any
polygamous marriage contracted without the Union Council’s
approval cannot be registered under the MFLO.
-
The MFLO
requires that the divorcing husband shall, as soon as possible
after a talaq pronounced "in any form whatsoever", give
the chairman of the Union Council notice in writing. The
chairman is to supply a copy of the notice to the wife.
Non-compliance is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine.
Within thirty days of receipt of the notice of repudiation,
the chairman must constitute an Arbitration Council in order
to take steps to bring about a reconciliation. Should that
fail, a talaq that is not revoked, either expressly or
implicitly, takes effect after the expiry of ninety days from
the day on which the notice of repudiation was delivered to
the chairman. If the wife is pregnant at the time of the
pronouncement of talaq, the talaq does not take
effect until ninety days have elapsed or the end of the
pregnancy, whichever is later.
Libya:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Maliki school is the predominant madhhab in Libya.
Libya also has a small Christian minority.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law): A
Constitutional Proclamation was issued on 11th
December 1969 and amended on 2nd March 1977. Article
2 declares Islam the official state religion. The state also
protects religious freedoms "in accordance with established
customs"… Article 2 of The Declaration on the Establishment of
the Authority of the People issued in March 1977 provides that
"[t]he Holy Qur’an is the Constitution of the Socialist People’s
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya".
Family Laws:
-
The minimum marriage age is 20 years for men
and women. There is scope for judicial discretion on grounds
of benefit or necessity and with the wali’s consent,
though no minimum age is specified. Marriage registration is
obligatory.
-
Polygamy is permitted with prior judicial
permission, and on grounds of the husband’s financial and
physical ability. Amendments to the law on polygamy also
permit the husband to marry polygamously with the written
agreement of the first wife, or with judicial permission
granted for serious reasons.
-
Maintenance is the husband’s duty, within the limits of his
ability, unless he is in hardship and his wife is wealthy.
Either spouse may obtain a maintenance order, or be awarded
interim maintenance during a suit if the plaintiff appears to
be eligible according to a provision which clearly diverges
from classical rules of Islamic law. No maximum time limit is
specified for claiming arrears of maintenance.
-
With
reference to divorce, Article 28 of the Code states that "[i]n
all cases, divorce shall not be established except by a decree
by the relevant court". Talaq uttered by a minor,
insane, demented or coerced husband or without deliberate
intent is invalid, as is talaq that is suspended or
conditional. Any talaq to which a number is attached is
considered single revocable (except the third of three).
-
Most of
the grounds for judicial divorce are available to men as well
as women. Judicial divorce may be obtained if the parties do
not agree to talaq by mutual consent and arbitration
and reconciliation efforts fail and harm is established.
-
The
divorcing husband must pay his wife maintenance for the ‘idda,
and for children in her custody. Compensation to the wife can
be awarded by the court if the husband is considered to bear
the responsibility for the causes of a talaq.
(Source: Except in case of
Malaysia, the source for other countries is from
http://www.law.emory.edu/IFL/legal/)
Malaysia:
Schools of Fiqh:
The majority of Muslims are Shafi’i, with Hanafi
minorities.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The Constitution was adopted on 31st August 1957 and
has been amended several times. Article 3(1) declares Islam the
official state religion as well as guarantees religious freedom.
Articles 3(3) and (5) provide that the Ruler of each State is
the head of the religion of Islam by the Constitution of that
State. In the absence of a Muslim ruler (in the States of
Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak) or in the Federal
Territories (Kuala Lumpur and Labuan) Yang di-Pertuan Agong
(Head of State) is declared the head of the religion of Islam.
Family laws:
-
You must be at
least eighteen (18) years old
-
If you are a
female who is under eighteen (18) years old but above sixteen
(16) years old , you can marry if you are able to obtain a
special marriage licence granted by the Chief Minister.
-
If you marry
without such a special marriage licence, then your marriage is
void.
-
A marriage
which is valid under any law, religion, custom or usage under
which it was solemnized prior to 1st March 1982 is deemed
registered under the Act.
-
After 1st
March 1982, every marriage must be registered in accordance
with the Act by a Registrar/Assistant Registrar. No marriage
under the law, religion, custom or usage maybe solemnized
except in accordance with the Act.
-
A person who
is lawfully married before 1st March 1982 is not lawfully
allowed to marry any other person after that date. Such
person's spouse will be regarded as lawfully wedded and will
have the right to inheritance regardless of whether the
marriage was registered or not.
-
Once a
marriage is registered or deemed to be registered under the
Act, it will be a legal and binding monogamous marriage which
will continue until:
-
one of the
parties dies; or
-
a divorce or
nullity decree is granted by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
-
Neither party
can marry again until the marriage is terminated by death,
divorce or a decree of nullity. If during the continuance of
such marriage, a party marries again, then he/she will be
deemed to have committed the offense of bigamy under the Penal
Code for which he/she may be liable to a fine and imprisonment
of up to a maximum of seven (7) years. The subsequent marriage
is also deemed null and void.
A divorce may be granted only by a court. You may petition for a
divorce:
-
by mutual
consent, i.e. both parties consent to the divorce, by way of a
joint petition; or
-
if there is no
mutual consent, by way of a contested petition.
(Source:
http://www.lawyerment.com.my/family/divorce.shtml.
Information compiled & extracts from
Bar Council Malaysia).
Syria:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Hanafi school is the predominant madhhab in Syria,
and there are Ja’fari, Druze, Isma’ili and ‘Alawi minorities.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The Constitution was adopted on 13th
March 1973. Article 3(1) declares that the religion of the
President of the Republic shall be Islam. Article 3(2) declares
Islamic jurisprudence a main source of legislation.
Family Laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 18 years for males and 17 for females,
with scope for judicial discretion for males of 15 years and
females of 13 years if either the father or grandfather
serving as wali consents and the parties appear
physically able. If the court finds incompatibility in age
between betrothed parties, the judge may withhold permission
for marriage.
-
Marriage
registration is obligatory and applications for marriage must
be submitted to the judge, requiring documentation attesting
to identity, age, residence, guardian’s identity, medical
certificate, civil status, etc. of the betrothed parties.
-
The judge
may refuse permission for a polygamous marriage unless the
husband is able to establish lawful cause and financial
capacity. The wife’s financial rights are forfeit if she works
outside the home without her husband’s consent or if she is
deemed disobedient due to leaving the matrimonial home without
lawful justification or refusing to cohabit with her husband.
-
Talaq
uttered while intoxicated, disoriented/enraged, under
coercion, during death sickness or grave illness, or in order
to coerce is ineffective. Talaq to which a number is
attached shall be considered a single irrevocable repudiation
(except the third of three).
-
Either
spouse may apply for a judicial divorce on grounds of discord
causing such harm as makes cohabitation impossible (after
reconciliation efforts). The divorced wife may be awarded
compensation of up to three years’ maintenance (in addition to
the maintenance owed her during her ‘idda) if the judge
finds the husband’s exercise of talaq to have been
arbitrary.
Tunisia:
Schools of Fiqh:
The Maliki school is the predominant madhhab in Tunisia.
Constitutional Status of Islam(ic Law):
The Constitution was adopted 1 June 1959. Article
1 declares Islam the state religion, and Article 38 provides
that the President of the Republic must be a Muslim.
Family laws:
-
The
minimum marriage age is 20 years for males and 17 years for
females. There is scope for judicial discretion with the
wali’s consent and for compelling reasons and apparent
benefit for both parties.
-
Registration is governed by the Civil Status Act 1957. Under
its terms, only a formal document shall prove the existence of
marriage. Unregistered marriages are deemed void.
-
Polygamy is prohibited; penal sanctions for the
polygamous husband and the wife who knowingly enters into a
polygamous marriage are one year’s prison sentence and/or a
fine.
-
Talaq
or extra-judicial
divorce are prohibited. An irrevocable divorce becomes a
permanent impediment to remarriage between divorced spouses.
Judicial divorce is available, after reconciliation efforts,
at the request of either party.
-
It is
evident from the above examples that in most Muslim majority
countries, including those that claim to be run on Islamic
principles, instant divorce is prohibited. Similarly, polygamy
is either prohibited or is permissible under specific
circumstances and only after permission has been obtained from
the courts and the existing wife. Therefore, there is
absolutely no justification for these practices to be
permitted in India: they must be prohibited. (Our objection is
not to the concept of talaaq divorce, per se,
but to the practice among some Muslim sects in India of
instant divorce).
-
In
short, it is simply not true that what goes in the name of
‘Muslim Personal Law’ in India are God-given laws that are
immutable and all Muslims are obliged to follow them.
POPULATION CONTROL:
Family planning or
population control is an important element of state policy in
many Muslim countries. In fact, in international circles, Iran
and Indonesia are often cited as being the best examples of
birth control campaigns in the developing world.
Iran:
Here is what a UNESCO document says about
population control programme in Iran:
“Following the ceasefire with Iraq in 1988, the
Ministry of Health and Medical Education initiated in bringing
the problem of unprecedented rapid population growth to the
attention of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam
Khomeini. The Imam's blessing sparked discussions on population
and family planning and led to organising a seminar in Mashad in
1988. A principal conclusion of this seminar was the need for a
multi-dimensional policy for population control.
“Despite the emphasis of Islam on the values of
family formation and procreation, most of Islam's religious
leaders have accepted in principle the right of couples to limit
or space their pregnancies using the barrier methods or
withdrawal provided both partners consent to the practice.
“Since the reactivation of the national family
planning programme in 1989, the Ministry has been able to secure
written proclamations (fatwa) from the incumbent supreme
spiritual leader and several other prominent Ayatollahs
regarding specific methods such as vasectomy, tubectomy,
condoms, pills, IUD and withdrawal.
“Today,
there is no major legal or religious obstacle to the promotion
and delivery of family planning methods and services except
abortion, which is not recognised as a proper means for birth
control. However, abortion can be resorted to at the
recommendation of a qualified physician once the mother's life
is at stake”.
(http://www.unesco.org/bangkok/ips/arh-web/case_studies/iran/1.htm)
Under the headline, ‘Iran:
Population Control - The Kindest Cut’,
the films distribution company, Chip Taylor Communications
publicises a 15 minute documentary produced by the Australian
ABC in 2000 as follows:
“When
the fundamentalist Mullahs seized power in Iran back in 1979
they urged the country to pro-create. They wanted lots of young
revolutionaries, and they wanted them now. Now Iran has a
massive population problem. From 34 million in 1979 to 73
million today, over 60% are under 25. Now the Mullahs, in a
remarkable display of political pragmatism, have made a complete
turn by instituting one of the world's most enlightened
population control programs.
“Vasectomies are encouraged and condoms are distributed free. Even
sex education classes of surprising candor are now compulsory
for all couples about to get married. This program investigates
a surprising development in deeply religious Iran, providing a
fascinating look at the contrast between secular and traditional
Iran. Produced by ABC Australia. 2002 SCA 15 min.”
(http://www.chiptaylor.com/ttlmnp3120-.html)
Egypt:
As early as 1959, government economists
expressed concern about the negative impact of high population
growth rates on the country's development efforts. In 1966, the
government initiated a nationwide birth control program aimed at
reducing the annual population growth rate to 2.5 percent or
less. Since then state-run family planning clinics have
distributed birth control information and contraceptives. These
programs were somewhat successful in reducing the population
growth rate, but in 1973 the rate began to increase again.
Population control policies tended to be ineffective because
most Egyptians, especially in rural areas, valued large
families.
Pakistan:
The following news item is a good
illustration of Pakistan’s stance on the subject:
Pakistan Gives In To UN Population Control
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 30,
00 (CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - The Pakistan government has promised to
make population control a "national priority" as it thanked the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for a $35 million funding
agreement…
The Pakistan English paper Dawn reports that Population
Welfare Minister Attiya Inayatullah in announcing the UNFPA
agreement said Pakistan has attained a fertility reduction, and
that the maintenance of the population control measure is a
national priority.
Pakistan's Business Recorder reported August 8 that the
UNFPA met with Pakistani Health Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Kasi
and conditionally offered $250 million in assistance for
reproductive health projects. A Health Ministry spokesman said,
"The UN official contended that if the children are imparted
awareness of small families from an early age, it will help
control population growth…"
The Pakistani Muslim culture, with its traditionally high
regard for children and family, is certain to undergo major
change as a result of its new cooperation with the UN
depopulation agenda.
(http://www.cwnews.com/Browse/2000/11/14376.htm).
Indonesia:
The importance Indonesia attaches to family
planning is obvious from the fact that ten years ago they
enacted a special legislation on the subject: “Law on
Population Development and Prosperous Family of 1992”. The
preamble to this law read:
Considering: a.
whereas, the national development involves all dimensions and
aspects of life, including the development of quantity and
quality of the people and quality of the families to achieve
prosperity, welfare, and happiness for the society.
b. whereas, a large and inappropriate population, and imbalanced
with an environment ability to support and accommodate, could
influence all segments of life of the society.
c. whereas, in view
of the above points, quantity of the people, quality of the
people and quality of the families as well as controlled
mobility, developed and directed to form a robust source of
human resource for national development and resilience.
d. whereas, in the effort to control quantity of the people, the
development of quality of the people and quality of the families
as well as the directing of the mobility of the people as
mentioned above, it is considered necessary to fix the
population development and family prosperity with a law.
With view to:
Article 5 paragraph (1) and Article 20 paragraph (1) of the 1945
Constitution. With the consent from the Republic of Indonesia
Parliament.