1: Introduction; 2: Islamic jurisprudence now and in the past; 3: The Gaza Shari‘a courts: an overview; 4: The daily practice of judges: perception vs reality; 5: The sociology of Nafaqa (maintenance); 6: Obedience, rebelliousness and agency; 7: The articulation of gendered parenthood: care vs guardianship; 8: Civil society, women’s movement and family law reform; 9: Change, a step at a time; 10: Epilogue
Nahda Shehada is Senior Lecturer in Gender, Culture and Development at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Her major area of interest is anthropology of Islamic law, particularly in the MENA region. She has published widely in books and leading international academic journals focussing on Islamic law.
'This unique ethnography derives from patient observation of
proceedings, enriched by the author’s insider knowledge of the
intricate social environments in which justice is constructed in
Gaza. She dialogues with actors from multiple strata, showing
sensitively and impartially how they interact in, behind, and
beyond the court arena. The book is a valuable addition to our
sociological understanding of (Islamic) law.'Édouard Conte,
Laboratoire d'anthropologie sociale, CNRS, Paris'Based on an
in-depth investigation in Gaza courts, Nahda Shehada’s book also
relies on the most relevant and up to date academic sources and
official archives. She shows how a sharia family court really works
in one contemporary Arab society: a society that is peculiar in
that it suffers from daily political confinement. In Gaza, women
and judges interact in the search for a both negotiated and
innovative law, the least unfavourable possible for both parties.
All that is brilliantly illustrated by a stimulating book that was
much needed and fills a gap in anthropology.'Bernard Botiveau,
Emeritus Director of Research at the CNRS, Paris
'This unique ethnography derives from patient observation of
proceedings, enriched by the author’s insider knowledge of the
intricate social environments in which justice is constructed in
Gaza. She dialogues with actors from multiple strata, showing
sensitively and impartially how they interact in, behind, and
beyond the court arena. The book is a valuable addition to our
sociological understanding of (Islamic) law.'Édouard Conte,
Laboratoire d'anthropologie sociale, CNRS, Paris'Based on an
in-depth investigation in Gaza courts, Nahda Shehada’s book also
relies on the most relevant and up-to-date academic sources and
official archives. She shows how a sharia family court really works
in one contemporary Arab society: a society that is peculiar in
that it suffers from daily political confinement. In Gaza, women
and judges interact in the search for a both negotiated and
innovative law, the least unfavourable possible for both parties.
All that is brilliantly illustrated by a stimulating book that was
much needed and fills a gap in anthropology.'Bernard Botiveau,
Emeritus Director of Research at the CNRS, Paris
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