Islamic Feminism, Legal Reform, and Family Law Activism in North Africa

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 84–96

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001301

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Islamic Feminism, Legal Reform, and Family Law Activism in North Africa

Names of Author: Prof. Leila Benali¹

Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Sociology and Law, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.

Abstract:
Debates surrounding women’s legal rights in North Africa have long been polarized between secular feminist movements and conservative religious establishments that claim patriarchal family codes are divinely ordained. Navigating this ideological impasse, Islamic feminist scholars and legal activists have pioneered progressive hermeneutics that reinterpret foundational religious texts through principles of justice, equality, and human dignity. Their advocacy has been instrumental in challenging discriminatory statutes governing marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. This paper analyzes the strategies and achievements of Islamic feminist legal reform coalitions in Morocco and Tunisia between 2011 and 2025. Utilizing feminist legal theory and textual discourse analysis, the study examines judicial rulings, parliamentary submissions, and interviews with female jurists and theologians. I argue that by reclaiming religious authority from within, North African women dismantle false binaries between faith and gender equality while advancing substantive legal protections.

Keywords: Islamic feminism, family law reform, North Africa, feminist hermeneutics, women’s legal rights, gender justice, Morocco, Tunisia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 29, 2026; Revised: August 05, 2026; Accepted: August 09, 2026; Published: September 15, 2026.

Citation: Benali, L. (2026). Islamic Feminism, Legal Reform, and Family Law Activism in North Africa. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 84–96. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001301

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