March 8 in a picture: Article 66 punishing Algerian mothers must be revoked

By Amel Hadjadj 

Since 2020, thousands of divorced Algerian mothers wishing to remarry have been taking action calling for the repeal of Article 66 of the family code. The Algerian family code was promulgated in 1984. Since then, it has sparked the outrage of the Algerian feminist movement that has been calling for its repeal and its replacement by civil and egalitarian laws.

Article 66 of the code reads: “The (female) holder of the right of custody who marries a person not related to the child by a relationship of a prohibited degree is deprived of her right of custody. This also ceases by renunciation as long as it does not compromise the interests of the child.”