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A new wedding contract drawn up following negotiations between Islamic organisations in the UK is to give Muslim women equal rights.
The change to sharia law will ensure both partners will be equal, while husbands will no longer have the right to polygamy, which was previously sanctioned under Islamic law, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Muslims in the UK have previously had a nikah ceremony that did not guarantee proof of marriage for the women, meaning many were denied financial rights when divorcing their husbands.
Commenting on the contract, Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, director of the Muslim Institute which wrote the contract, told the newspaper: "The document is a challenge to various sharia councils who don't believe in gender equality but the world has changed and Islamic law has to be renegotiated."
Dr Ida Glaser, a director of the Centre for Muslim Christian Studies, told Lapido Media the new contract advocates acknowledging "the woman's role in marriage both in English and Islamic law", theasiannews.co.uk reports.
The expert said the agreement is a "modern interpretation" of Islamic law and ought to be "greatly encouraged".
If you need to speak in confidence to a family solicitor, or to find out more about the family law services we can provide, please contact the family and matrimonial law team on 01753 279045 or email familylaw@bpcollins.co.uk.
