Women must wear hijab to testify, Islamic court in Jordan says

Amman Sharia Court of Appeals adopts a fatwa which deems any women who doesn’t wear the hijab as “a slut.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Jordanian women are seen with religious head-covering. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Jordanian women are seen with religious head-covering.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Women who do not wear the traditional Islamic head-covering will not be permitted to testify in court, according to a decree handed down by a Jordanian religious court.
The Jordanian news agency Al-Madenah reported on its website that the Amman Sharia Court of Appeals adopted a fatwa which deems any women who doesn’t wear the hijab as “a slut.”
The decision raised the ire of the Jordanian Women’s Union, which released a statement on Amman net criticizing the move as discriminatory.
“Seeing as this decision violates the provisions of the Jordanian Constitution which calls for equality between all Jordanians, and which protects their personal freedoms, we are demanding all the concerned parties to reconsider the decision,” the union said.
“Women’s attire is a personal choice and no one should challenge it as long as they’re not breaking the law and stepping out of line. An attack on those freedoms is considered a crime and explicitly violates [Jordan’s constitution].”
The union is calling on authorities to reverse the decision, and lawyers in the Hashemite kingdom are urging nationwide demonstrations against the ruling.