Document #1321802
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to a representative of the
Palestine Human Rights Information Centre in Jerusalem, mixed
marriages between Muslim women and Palestinian Christians men are
not a common phenomenon within the Palestinian society (10 Nov.
1993). One of the reasons for this fact is that the Israeli laws do
not permit mixed marriages (Ibid.). One way around these laws
within the Palestinian society is usually for the Christian to
convert to Islam because, according to the representative, "it is
much easier and simpler to convert to Islam than to Christianity"
(Ibid.). The representative added that the issue of mixed marriages
meet with different reactions depending on the families involved;
some Muslim families may disown daughters who marry non-Muslim
while others may simply accept the fait accompli (Ibid.).
This sensitive question is more a matter of traditional values than
of religion (Ibid.). The representative reported that one of the
reasons for resisting mixed marriages is that families want to
bring up grandchildren in the same value system as their
grandparents (Ibid.). The representative was not aware of any cases
in which a Muslim woman was murdered for entering into a mixed
marriage (Ibid.).
A representative of the Society of St-Yves,
a Christian human rights organization based in Jerusalem, stated
that as a general rule the family of a Muslim woman who decides to
marry a Palestinian Christian would not agree with such a decision
(10 Nov. 1993). Israeli laws do not permit this type of marriage
and the couple would have to go to Cyprus in order to have their
mixed marriage performed (Ibid.). A Palestinian Muslim woman and
her Palestinian Christian husband would likely difficulties and
disapproval in their Palestinian social environment (Ibid.). Such a
couple would probably loose their friends, and their families would
certainly sever all relationship with them (Ibid.). However, the
representative added that these would be exceptions in some
families, although such a marriage would certainly provoke strong
reactions, it would be accepted (Ibid.). The representative was not
aware of any cases in which a Muslim woman was murdered for
marrying a Palestinian Christian (Ibid.).
A Palestinian professor of sociology and
anthropology at Haifa University in Israel stated that mixed
marriages within the Palestinian community are an uncommon practice
and are socially not accepted (10 Nov. 1993). This type of marriage
is more likely to happen among the educated Palestinian
élites (Ibid.). The professor was not aware of any
statistics or research on this subject, a fact that suggests the
sensitivity of the issue within the Palestinian community
(Ibid.).
A Palestinian professor of sociology at
Queen's University in Kingston reported that mixed marriages are
not accepted practice in the Palestinian community in Israel (10
Nov. 1993). However, if the mixed couple is from highly educated
families the marriage has a better chance of being accepted by the
families (Ibid.). The sociologist added that a mixed marriage
between a Muslim Palestinian woman and a Palestinian Christian man
is less tolerated then a marriage between a Christian woman and a
Muslim man (Ibid.). The professor is aware of cases where a Muslim
woman in a mixed marriage was killed by her family, although he
states that these cases have been decreasing in recent years
(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.
Haifa University, Sociology and
Anthropology Department, Israel. 10 November 1993. Telephone
interview with professor.
Palestine Human Rights Information
Centre, Jerusalem. 10 November 1993. Telephone interview with
representative.
Queen's University, Sociology
Department, Kingston. 10 November 1993. Telephone interview with
professor.
Society of St-Yves, Jerusalem. 10
November 1993. Telephone interview with representative.