[speechlesstx]

Outcry after French court rules on virginity

PARIS (AP) — The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage — and a French judge agreed.

The ruling ending the Muslim couple's union has stunned France and raised concerns the country's much-cherished secular values are losing ground to cultural traditions from its fast-growing immigrant communities.

The decision also exposed the silent shame borne by some Muslim women who transgress long-held customs demanding proof of virginity on the wedding night.

In its ruling, the court concluded the woman had misrepresented herself as a virgin and that, in this particular marriage, virginity was a prerequisite.

But in treating the case as a breach of contract, the ruling was decried by critics who said it undermined decades of progress in women's rights. Marriage, they said, was reduced to the status of a commercial transaction in which women could be discarded by husbands claiming to have discovered hidden defects in them.

The court decision "is a real fatwa against the emancipation and liberty of women. We are returning to the past," said Urban Affairs Minister Fadela Amara, the daughter of immigrants from Muslim North Africa, using the Arabic term for a religious decree.

And the Islamization of Europe continues. Is returning to the past - treating women as property subject to the man's whims and unjustly humiliating them publicly - one of those good "progressive" ideas? And to think, someone here just called America's ideas "antiquated."

[tomder55]

The French did not show such outrage when Brigitte Barot was convicted this week and that would've been justified .

Seems to me that if it was mutually agreed upon that she would be a virgin and she in fact wasn't... then it should be proper for him to get divorce ,annulled whatever.

[speechlesstx]

Yes, legally the decision was based on reasonable grounds. I wonder how it would go over here. What about this portion of the argument?

The decision underscored the painful predicament faced today by many Muslim women in France and elsewhere in the West who become sexually emancipated but remain bound by strict codes of honor inherited and enforced by their families — and prospective husbands.

It is not unusual for young Muslim women to procure fake virginity certificates, use tricks like vials of spilled blood on the wedding night or even undergo hymen repair to satisfy family expectations, and evade the shame that would follow if their secret got out.

An informal survey by The Associated Press in 2006 found numerous private clinics in the Paris region where such surgery is performed, as well as doctors who supply fake virginity certificates before a marriage.

"Today, the judicial system of a modern country cannot hold to these savage traditions, completely inhuman for the young woman," said the rector of the Paris Mosque, Dalil Boubakeur.

He likened the court decision to "equating marriage with a commercial transaction."

Like some others, Boubakeur, a moderate, voiced fears that Muslim fundamentalists would seek to profit from the Lille ruling "as they have done with the veil. ... Fundamentalists use (head scarves) like their flag."

Brigitte on the other hand, fined $24,500 for "inciting hatred against Muslims" in a letter?

[tomder55]

I fully agree that the culture of the Califate needs an enema. But I don't see where the French courts could compel the guy to continue the marriage.The girl should consider herself lucky that she can break free from such a man .

Besides I'm sure divorce French style can be initiated on flimsier grounds ;much like here.

He likened the court decision to "equating marriage with a commercial transaction."
Well yeah ;our government is not much different .That is why we have debates here about the nature of marriage ;precisely because it is in the view of the state, a contractual matter.

By the way
I would've kept my Free Brigitte Bardot bumper on my signature page but I needed to expand the space for Obama rules . Unfortunately I ran out of space so I can't include how he will stem the rising of the oceans (from his Tuesday speech... check it out)

[Choux]

Just another example showing that monotheistic religion *is still* a real enemy of women... this example happens to be Islamic oppression, there are Christian examples as well; consider Mormonism's wacky offshoots, for example.

It is interesting to note that when confronted, the religious men say they are 'taking good care of the women'. When in fact, they make them virtual slaves!!

Thank Heavens I grew up in America and was able to chose my religious non-belief and chose working so I could be my own person. :):):)

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY NOW AND FOREVER.

[speechlesstx]

I fully agree that the culture of the Califate needs an enema. But I don't see where the French courts could compel the guy to continue the marriage.The girl should consider herself lucky that she can break free from such a man .

You have a point there, it's probably for her good.

I would've kept my Free Brigitte Bardot bumper on my signature page but I needed to expand the space for Obama rules . Unfortunately I ran out of space so I can't include how he will stem the rising of the oceans (from his Tuesday speech... check it out)

Wow, he is amazing.

… this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal…

[tomder55]

Wow, he is amazing.

Isn't he though ? Move over Moses.

[jillianleab]

You know, if the court had said, "No, you can't divorce your wife for misrepresentation", he'd have just filed under "irreconcilable differences" or something. It's not like it's that hard to get divorced, after all (well, in the States, anyway).

Weird that the courts ruled this way... it's doesn't pave a pretty picture for the future. "I married her on the condition that she would cook me dinner every night, do the laundry and wax the car! She refuses to wax the car! Annul this fraudulent marriage!!!" Where does it stop, you know?

I didn't know marriages had prerequisites... I might be in trouble! :D

[speechlesstx]

[BABRAM]

What the hell did I miss that led to posting of an art rendition of Moses? What has this become, Archie Bunker vs. George Jefferson day??

As for the art... Well I have similar hair, but he's got a better tan for what that's worth. I've known Ethiopian Jews as dark complected though.

[speechlesstx]

What the hell did I miss that led to posting of an art rendition of Moses? What has this become, Archie Bunker vs. George Jefferson day???

Tom said "move over Moses," seeing as how Obama added stemming the rising sea levels to his repertoire of miracles.

[speechlesstx]

Weird that the courts ruled this way... it's doesn't pave a pretty picture for the future. "I married her on the condition that she would cook me dinner every night, do the laundry and wax the car! She refuses to wax the car! Annul this fraudulent marriage!!!" Where does it stop, you know?

LOL, well put Jillian. What's funny is after the public threw a fit the Islamic Justice Minister asked for an appeal - against the woman's wishes. On the other hand she may have good reason to not want this overturned if you know what I mean.

I didn't know marriages had prerequisites... I might be in trouble! :D

You know, I'll have been married 24 years in a week but I can recall a surprise that first year, I started getting demands for an old debt my wife had. I was not pleased, but since love was the only prerequisite I had to smile and pay it. Of course I don't think she believes she got everything she bargained for in me either. ;)

[jillianleab]

You know, I'll have been married 24 years in a week but I can recall a surprise that first year, I started getting demands for an old debt my wife had. I was not pleased, but since love was the only prerequisite I had to smile and pay it. Of course I don't think she believes she got everything she bargained for in me either. ;)

Now you're just going after brownie points! Calling Mrs. Speechlesstx, calling Mrs. Speechlesstx!

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! :)

But back to serious, I'm sure it's in this woman't best interest to NOT be married to this guy...

[speechlesstx]

Now you're just going after brownie points! Calling Mrs. Speechlesstx, calling Mrs. Speechlesstx!

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! :)

Thank you. A guy has to fish for points wherever he can you know. :)

[jillianleab]

Thank you. A guy has to fish for points wherever he can you know. :)

LOL! I'm married too, I know! :D