Independent Lebanese Activists Movement demands equality for women with regards to child custody age

The movement of independent Lebanese women activists issued a statement condemning the continuing discrimination amongst Lebanese women in relation to child custody age.  The statement notes that at a time when civil and rights based campaigns have made headway within a number of religions family courts such as with the Anglican and Greek orthodox churches as well as the Sunni community where steps have been taken to increase child custody age to 12 years, women affiliated to other sects, notably Shiite women, are still suffering in their religious courts who refuse to respond to the campaign for lifting child custody ages within Shiite courts as well as other campaigns seeking equality on this front. The coordinator of this movement, Ruweida Mrooeh called for a positive gesture from the Higher Shia Council to consider lifting child custody age from 8 to 12 years as in the case of other sects especially since the clergy visited by the campaign activists emphasized that Ijtihad is still possible and some texts may be revised so as to secure women’s rights.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 7 July 2014