Conversion for Convenience: Manipulating Personal Law Status in Religious Legal Systems
Akif Tahiiev is a post-doctoral research fellow at Goethe University Frankfurt.
In some countries, legal systems are deeply shaped by religious doctrines, especially in areas concerning personal status, such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Under these frameworks, individuals belonging to different religious communities are often governed by distinct sets of laws. Although they may possess equal citizenship in theory, the legal rights, responsibilities, and protections afforded them in personal and familial matters can differ significantly depending on their religious affiliation.