Pakistan: Treatment by the extended family of children born of "muttah" from Shia parents

A professor of Anthropology at Boston University who specializes in religion, law and gender dynamics in Iran, India and Pakistan and who has published a book on muttah (temporary Islamic marriage), stated in a telephone interview with the Research Directorate that the treatment by the extended family of a child born out of muttah depends on the legitimacy of the child (12 Oct. 2007). She explained that if a child is acknowledged by the father as his legitimate child, then the child would have the same and equal rights to a child born out of a permanent marriage and that the treatment by the extended family depends on whether the child is legitimate or not (Professor, Boston University 12 Oct. 2007). The Professor added in a further telephone interview with the Research Directorate that the treatment of children born of muttah can vary depending on the family because individuals can react differently to the same situation (ibid. 31 Oct. 2007).

Further information was provided by a professor of International Studies at the University of Oregon, who specializes in comparative Muslim societies in Pakistan and in South Asia, during a telephone interview on 18 October 2007 with the Research Directorate. She indicated that children born of muttah may be treated differently than other children and would likely face discrimination because, even though muttahs are legitimate marriages, they are not perceived as such by society (Professor, University of Oregon 18 Oct. 2007).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Professor of Anthropology, Boston University. 31 October 2007. Telephone interview.
_____. 12 October 2007. Telephone interview.

Professor of International Studies, University of Oregon. 18 October 2007. Telephone interview.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: a professor of the history of Islam at the University of Georgetown did not provide information within the time constraints for this Response.

An international human rights lawyer in New York and Karamah Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights did not have information on the subject.

Attempts to contact the International Union of Muslim Women and the Muslim Women's League were unsuccessful.

Publications: Islamic Family Law in a Changing World: A Global Resource Book, The Laws of Marriage in Islam, The Marriage Contract in Islamic Law in the Shari'ah and Personal Status Laws of Egypt and Morocco, Marriage on Trial: A Study of Islamic Family Law, The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Under Modern Islamic Legislation.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Freedom House, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Union of Muslim Women, Islamic Web, Karamah Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, Muslim Women's League, United Kingdom Home Office Country Information, United States (US) Department of State.