ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the pluralistic system of personal status laws in Jordan, focusing on the coexistence of sharia courts and Christian ecclesiastical courts. It highlights how the absence of a unified civil code generates legal uncertainty, particularly for women and unrecognized religious communities. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality and Jordan’s ratification of international treaties, discriminatory practices persist in matters of marriage, inheritance, and custody. The study also examines recent reforms, such as proposals for equal inheritance rights among Christian communities and constitutional amendments concerning women’s legal status. These developments reflect ongoing debates between religious authority, state institutions, and civil society, underscoring the tensions between tradition, reform, and gender equality in Jordan’s legal landscape.
