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France strikes down court ruling on
virginity.
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| Article Type: | Brief article |
| Subject: |
Marriage
(Social aspects) Marriage (Laws, regulations and rules) Virginity (Ethical aspects) Virginity (Laws, regulations and rules) |
| Pub Date: | 11/01/2009 |
| Publication: | Name: Reproductive Health Matters Publisher: Reproductive Health Matters Audience: General Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Family and marriage; Health; Women's issues/gender studies Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Reproductive Health Matters ISSN: 0968-8080 |
| Issue: | Date: Nov, 2009 Source Volume: 17 Source Issue: 34 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 290 Public affairs; 930 Government regulation; 940 Government regulation (cont); 980 Legal issues & crime; 970 Government domestic functions Advertising Code: 94 Legal/Government Regulation; 91 Ethics Computer Subject: Government regulation |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: France Geographic Name: France Geographic Code: 4EUFR France |
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| Accession Number: | 225074425 |
| Full Text: |
A French court has ruled that virginity is not an "essential
quality" for a valid marriage. This ruling invalidated a lower
court decision to annul a French Muslim couple's union because the
bride was not a virgin, as she had claimed. French civil law allows
annulment if a spouse lies about matters such as nationality, a criminal
record or previous divorce. The initial ruling could have led to wider
recognition of virginity as a legal obligation for marriage if a family
demanded it. Several hundred activists demonstrated in Paris and the
Ministry of Justice filed the appeal to reverse the ruling. Islam is the
second most important religion in France but France's constitution
defines the country as a secular republic and religion as a private
matter. It was predicted that the original decision would send young
Muslim women "running to hospitals to have their hymens
restored". However, the country must navigate new cultural
sensitivities and constitutional boundaries. (1.) Manier B. France strikes down court ruling on virginity. Women's eNews, 18 November 2008. |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |
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