A Study to Investigate the Impact of Customary and Islamic Law on Property Ownership for Islam Practicing Women in the Gambia

Management Development Institute

Dissertation Project Submitted in partial fulfillment of Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and

Development course requirements

Research Title

A study to investigate the Impact of customary and Islamic law on property ownership for Islam practicing women in the Gambia

Submitted by:

Michael Kiragu Kogi

April 2017

Abstract

The quest for gender equality and equity in Gambia is relevant for effective gender mainstreaming. Women have been vulnerable and marginalized since before independence. Gambia’s religious and cultural structures have always been trusted to offers a framework to address this historical marginalization. Property ownership has been highly debated in recent years especially when it comes to women.

The case of Muslim women has been alarming in certain Islamic countries because though women are allowed to own property some traditions when put together with some Islamic Laws are highly restricting women's ownership property. Property in this light includes land, house and other tangible properties.

This research highlights the different sources of property acquisition which has been hindered due to, in most cases deliberate confusion of Islamic laws and customary laws which has restricted the ownership of property by Muslim women in the Gambia.

This research utilized secondary data; The Sample was chosen through purposive sampling and convenience sampling. This research took the form of a qualitative research. Data Collected was analyzed in Excel and Report writing done on Microsoft Word editor.

Keywords: Ownership, Islamic law, customary law, Property, acquisition, marginalization

Table of Contents

Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Table of Contents ........................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

CHAPTER 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 5

1.1 Motivation of Research ....................................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Importance of Study............................................................................................................................ 5

1.3 Research objectives............................................................................................................................. 6

General Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 6

Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 6

1.4 Research Hypothesis ........................................................................................................................... 6

1.5 Procedure of study .............................................................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER 2: Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 8

2.1 Definition ............................................................................................................................................ 8

2.2 Theory ................................................................................................................................................. 8

2.3 Related studies in same industries .................................................................................................... 10

2.4 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 11

CHAPTER 3: Research Methodology ........................................................................................................ 12

3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2 Research strategy .............................................................................................................................. 12

3.3 Research method ............................................................................................................................... 12

3.4 Research approach ............................................................................................................................ 13

3.5 Data collection method and tools...................................................................................................... 13

3.6 Sample selection ............................................................................................................................... 14

3.7 Research process ............................................................................................................................... 14

3.8. Data analysis .................................................................................................................................... 14

3.9 Ethical considerations ....................................................................................................................... 15