Jordan: Information on forced marriages and the protection available to women who are forced into marriage; information on the government's attitude in cases where a daughter who refuses to marry the man chosen by her father is murdered
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | JOR17143.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Jordan: Information on forced marriages and the protection available to women who are forced into marriage; information on the government's attitude in cases where a daughter who refuses to marry the man chosen by her father is murdered, 1 April 1994, JOR17143.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab4c1b.html [accessed 13 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a lawyer member of the Jordanian Bar Association and human rights activist in Amman, arranged marriages still occur in Jordan in both rural and urban areas even though, according to family law, a woman must agree to the marriage (26 Apr. 1994). The source indicated that, although women are legally protected against forced marriages, customs within the society and family dictate otherwise (ibid.). She added that in practice a woman will not disobey her father, especially in Bedouin societies or rural areas where women are less aware of their rights and where social pressure is stronger than in the city (ibid.). She explained that in practice the marriage agreement is usually signed by the father or another male member of the family (ibid.).
She stated that legally a woman threatened by her family for refusing to enter into an arranged marriage has recourse to the police and the court; however, police and judges are most likely to go along with the family decision and against the woman (ibid.). The source further indicated that the murder of a woman by her father or a family member because she refused to marry the man chosen for her is considered a crime by the authorities (ibid.). However, she added, the punishment imposed in such a case will most likely be less severe than in other murder cases (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Lawyer and human rights activist, Amman. 26 April 1994. Telephone interview.
