UAE: The United Arab Emirates soon to have women judges
Source:
AFP via WUNRN Women in the United Arab Emirates will soon be allowed to become judges, breaking a male monopoly over the profession in the conservative monarchy, the justice minister was quoted as saying.
Women are currently being trained at the Judicial Institute to become judges and prosecutors across the UAE once the law is amended, the English daily Gulf News reported, quoting minister Mohammad bin Nakhira al-Dhaheri.
"At present the law states that only a Muslim man is entitled to assume the position of a judge," he said, without specifying when the law will be changed.
The proposed law, which should cover the judiciary in the seven-member federation, would make the UAE the second Gulf country after Bahrain to allow women to become judges.
Women hold nine seats in the 40-member Federal National Council, with eight appointed by the UAE president to join the half-elected advisory body.
07 January 2008
