Love or religion? Couple in Syria faces difficult choice
Published: 19 May, 2009, 10:40
Edited: 20 May, 2010, 04:26
TAGS: Religion, Middle East, Human rights, Law
A couple in Syria is finding it hard to have their marriage legally recognized. He's Syrian, she's Armenian, but because of religious differences their union is not recognized by the law.
In an ordinary suburb of Damascus lives an extraordinary couple. Tammam is Syrian, and Anna is Armenian. Together they spend their time making stop-motion cartoons.
But to be different is not always better. Tammam is a Druze, a member of a small splinter religion. Anna is Christian Orthodox.
In Syria, only a church can officially register a marriage. And religions can only marry within themselves: a Muslim may only marry a Muslim, a Christian another Christian, and a Druze another Druze.
There is one loophole: a Muslim man may marry a woman of any religion. So, to get married, Tammam has to convert to Islam.
Tammam Hamzeh believes “this is pointless, unfair and absurd”.
“My visa is running out again. Every six months I have to return to Armenia to get another visitor visa. But for my husband to convert just because of visas is just unethical,” his wife Anna says.
The absence of an official marriage certificate has serious implications for inheritance rights, family benefits, and the legal position of any future children the two might have. Anna and Tammam are now planning to leave Syria.
With one in ten Syrians a non-Muslim, mixed religion relationships do happen. But Syria is ruled by Shariah law, where government edicts are made in accordance with the principles of the Koran, not secular rules.
Human Rights groups say this curtails the rights of mixed-religion couples.
“Civil marriage is the only adequate solution for a multi-religious and open society,” said Hala Barbara, a Human Rights lawyer.
The latest Freedom House report rated Syria as one of the worst civil rights offenders in the world.
The status of mixed-religion couples is unlikely to change unless the religious authorities adjust their attitudes.
Dr. Mouhammed Habbash, a renowned academic and parliamentarian, says his sermons attempt to reconcile Islam with the practical challenges of the 21st century.
Commenting on whether he’d accept the idea of civil marriage, he said, “All of our members refuse this kind of marriage."
“We have traditions. We have history. We have understanding,” he added.
Even the most optimistic experts predict the situation won’t change in the next decade.
Until then, non-Muslim men will continue to face Sophie’s choice of either giving up their religion, or condemning themselves and their partner to a life of illegitimacy.
19.05.2009, 05:13
I'm smokin it!Onlookers in central Moscow watched in alarm as fire fighters stormed into Russia's first ever McDonalds in the early hours of Tuesday morning. |
19.05.2009, 12:09
Wrestling: not proud job in RussiaIt may be pure entertainment in the US, but some in Russia take it very seriously. Here professional wrestlers don’t make as much money as their American idols, but look like they love their job enough to kill for it. |
Fortunately, I have a great respect to all religion and to Love as well. I have been converted from orthodox to pentecostal since 1999 and that helped me to be a broad minded. Because I used to think Orthodox and Muslim are the only true religions as my parents preached me. But who knows? that is why I respect fully equal all religion and no matter what I love and will love people with regard no religion. When we come to love, it is the greatest of all thing in this world. Imagine, had you ever hurted someone you love? I hope not. Second, have you ever thought of love based on religion? If so you must have been religious but not beliver. To me, if you are a believr, then you know what you believe in but if you are religious then you must be a narrow minded. Further, when we feel comfortable with some girl or boy, do we ask religion or do we express our love? Just remind what you have encountered a few days ago, I hope you all expresed love. The only way, you find out what religion the other party is when you bless the food or swear. Thus, though both are interrelated, love is the first thing to come and we should all accomodate about religion. GOD IS GOOD!!!!
Love, Sex, and all those good things while getting the state to recognize it. I don't know the specifics of Syria (yet I am getting an eyefull), but this seems to be a worldwide impediment to many couples. How many times is it 'just a jobs program for the clergy?', something to keep them employed and food on the table? Restrictions and impediments. Russia had a day off so couples could get romantic, aka have kids, while countries like Singapore try to encourage people to marry. The state can be a big meddler in people's lives.
Law and religion never mix well. I'm a little more shielded from the world than I thought that I didn't realize there were still societies that didn't allow people of different religions to marry, but with the things I've heard, I'm not much surprised it exists. That's awful! I hope it can change over time :-\