Fistfight in Jordanian parliament over giving women equal rights

Last week, a fight broke out in Jordan's parliament over discussions about a constitutional amendment.

What caused such a violent response?

Jordanian law does not say that women have equal rights. The discussion was about adding the word "women" to Article VI of the Jordanian constitution about rights, which now says, "Jordanians shall be equal before the law with no discrimination between them in rights and duties even if they differ in race, language or religion." Not gender.

Opponents of the amendment are concerned that it would then give women equal rights in inheritance as well as other areas.

There is also a Palestinian angle. Right now, only children of Jordanian men receive automatic citizenship. Jordanians are concerned that allowing children of Jordanian women to be citizens would affect the national character of Jordan - and most of the new citizens would be Palestinian.

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