United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, has stated that if believed that women do not have any rights, finding paternity will affect the women and their children, hence the problem is not about DNA testing, rather it is about the patriarchy.
He said this in a tweet in regards to the fatwa released by the Fatwa Majlis. The Fatwa Majlis has stated, that using DNA testing to find the paternity of a child born from premarital sex is forbidden.
In his tweet, Dr. Shaheed has said that it is strange that the fatwa committee to think that they have a monopoly on interpreting religious texts when there is so much diversity in interpreting texts.
He also raised his concerns on justification the Fatwa Majlis can offer for denying a child's right.
“What justification will this Supreme Council have to offer to deny any child the right to the highest attainable standard of health by being able to get medical treatment in light of relevant family medical history? According to classical jurists, one of the five essential objectives of sharia is the protection of life. This fatwa fails to meet this critical test. In any case, why is the Fatwa Committee suggesting that not searching for the truth is a good thing?” said Dr. Shaheed.
In addition to forbidding the usage of DNA testing to identify a child’s paternity, the fatwa released by the Fatwa Majlis reads that the policy level rules are needed to protect paternity or biological relationships. It also reads that this includes children born from sexual activity with a relative of the wife accidentally or in doubt and children born from forbidden marriages if they are not aware, not aware if being prohibited for kinship.
In reference to the Fatwa Majlis, High Court has recently declared that DNA testing is forbidden to use to determine the paternity of a child born from premarital sex. The decision of the High Court has caused a public backlash towards the Fatwa Majlis and the High Court.
He said this in a tweet in regards to the fatwa released by the Fatwa Majlis. The Fatwa Majlis has stated, that using DNA testing to find the paternity of a child born from premarital sex is forbidden.
In his tweet, Dr. Shaheed has said that it is strange that the fatwa committee to think that they have a monopoly on interpreting religious texts when there is so much diversity in interpreting texts.
He also raised his concerns on justification the Fatwa Majlis can offer for denying a child's right.
“What justification will this Supreme Council have to offer to deny any child the right to the highest attainable standard of health by being able to get medical treatment in light of relevant family medical history? According to classical jurists, one of the five essential objectives of sharia is the protection of life. This fatwa fails to meet this critical test. In any case, why is the Fatwa Committee suggesting that not searching for the truth is a good thing?” said Dr. Shaheed.
In addition to forbidding the usage of DNA testing to identify a child’s paternity, the fatwa released by the Fatwa Majlis reads that the policy level rules are needed to protect paternity or biological relationships. It also reads that this includes children born from sexual activity with a relative of the wife accidentally or in doubt and children born from forbidden marriages if they are not aware, not aware if being prohibited for kinship.
In reference to the Fatwa Majlis, High Court has recently declared that DNA testing is forbidden to use to determine the paternity of a child born from premarital sex. The decision of the High Court has caused a public backlash towards the Fatwa Majlis and the High Court.
