This is in Uganda:
LEGISLATORS have supported the establishment of Qadhi courts to handle Muslim marriages, divorce and inheritance.
“This is very good and it shows that the Government is promoting what is established in the Constitution,” said Abdu Katuntu (FDC) during a seminar on the Domestic Relations Bill.
“This would be instrumental in handling the Muslim matters as prescribed in our divine rules.”
A technical committee of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council submitted the proposals to the Law Reform Commission to be included in the Bill.
The council said a chief qadhi, who would preside over the courts, must have a degree in Sharia law and be of high moral character.
However, Katuntu and Erias Lukwago (DP) said the chief Qadhi must also posses a degree in secular law in addition to one in Sharia.
They also noted that it was not very clear in the proposals how the chief qadhi would be appointed and who would appoint them.
The council also submitted that a woman shall not have custody of her children if she divorced or denounced Islam.
But Betty Amongi (Independent) opposed the clause on of children’s custody, saying it was aimed at denying women the right to their children.
However, Lule Mawiya said: “Let us not debate the Koran because it has stayed for ages and it has been tested.”
The deputy speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, gave assurance that the long-awaited Bill would be enacted this year because “We do not want to compete with election campaigns.”
The chief of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Miria Nassali, said they had organised a meeting between the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the Law Reform Commission to reach a compromise.
Source