Legal Treatment of Marriage Problems among Muslims in Central Rumelia during 18th Century Cover Image
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Съдебно третиране на брачните проблеми на мюсюлманите в цeнтpaлнатa част на Румелия през ХVІІІ в.
Legal Treatment of Marriage Problems among Muslims in Central Rumelia during 18th Century

Author(s): Svetlana Ivanova
Subject(s): Anthropology
Published by: Институт за етнология и фолклористика с Етнографски музей при БАН

Summary/Abstract: The article presents two hudzets of the kadi of Silistra dated 1791–1792 and concerning the divorce of Zubeyda hanun, daughter of Mustafa aga from Hotin with her husband gavazbashi seid Osman aga, son of Mehmed from the kasaba of Kyangeri. The case was taken to court at the request of Zubeyda hanun who declared that her husband had beaten her. According to the fetva the legal motive for the divorce was blasphemy. After the divorce the spouses and their relatives changed gifts. Due to segmentation of the mentioned above documents, as well as taking into consideration the kadi sidzili of the towns of Sofia, Vidin and Ruse from 16, 17 and 18th C., there are analysed the legal statuses of Muslim marriages and divorces performed according to Sheriat (then in force in Rumelia). Special attention is paid to marring and divorcing, and their consequences concerning financial matters and properties, as well as to the legal procedure (allowing for the women to participate as witnesses) characterised by a high degree of formalisation of marriage institution and legal possibility women to solve their marriage problems with the help of a legal agent. A conclusion is reached that the marriages, but also the divorces in Central Rumelia followed a unified procedures giving possibilities for legal intermediation in solving the marriage problems of the Muslims and especially of Muslim women.

  • Issue Year: XXIV/1998
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 51-64
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Bulgarian