Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/103379
Title: | Legitimizing a Muslim marriage in Malta : navigating legal and normative structures |
Authors: | Sadegh, Ibtisam Zammit, David E. |
Keywords: | Islamic marriage customs and rites -- Malta Marriage law -- Malta Muslims -- Malta Catholics -- Malta Islamic law -- Malta |
Issue Date: | 2018 |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Citation: | Sadegh, I., & Zammit, D. E. (2018). Legitimizing a Muslim marriage in Malta : navigating legal and normative structures. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 7(3), 498-518. |
Abstract: | This article explores the strategies adopted by Muslim and Catholic spouses in celebrating and legitimizing unregistered Muslim marriages in Malta. It demonstrates how these couples' decisions to celebrate such marriages and to introduce various 'Catholic' practices into their wedding ceremonies reflect the way they construct their identities and seek to socially ground them as an adaptive response to the overarching social context that also expresses their agency. These choices are contextualized in relation to the evolution of Maltese marriage law from colonial Church/State dualism until the present 'post-Catholic' scenario. Despite significant recent changes to marriage laws, Canon law rules continue to shape the way marriage is understood. This is important as marriage also serves a critical gate-keeping function in determining access to Maltese citizenship and residence. The article highlights the way in which the gap between formal (national) and informal (religious) law is managed by spouses and the local Imam so as to facilitate the formation of Muslim marriages. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/103379 |
Appears in Collections: | Scholarly Works - FacLawCiv |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Legitimizing_a_Muslim_marriage_in_Malta_navigating_legal_and_normative_structures_2018.pdf Restricted Access | 1.06 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
Items in OAR@UM are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.