The Expert Witness in Islamic Courts
Medicine and Crafts in the Service of Law
The Expert Witness in Islamic Courts
Medicine and Crafts in the Service of Law
Shaham begins with a history of expert testimony in medieval Islamic culture, analyzing the different roles played by male experts, especially physicians and architects, and females, particularly midwives. From there, he focuses on the case of Egypt, tracing the country’s reform of its traditional legal system along European lines beginning in the late nineteenth century. Returning to a broader perspective, Shaham draws on a variety of legal and historical sources to place the phenomenon of expert testimony in cultural context. A truly comprehensive resource, The Expert Witness in Islamic Courts will be sought out by a broad spectrum of scholars working in history, religion, gender studies, and law.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I The Premodern Period
1 Between a Witness, a Reporter, and a Judge: The Probative Status of the
Expert
2 The Right Hand of Qadis: Male Experts in Judicial Practice
3 Agents of Patriarchy in the Secluded World of Women: Females as Expert
Witnesses
Part II The Modern Period
4 Continuity and Reform: The Egyptian Expert System in a Comparative
Perspective
5 Revealing the Secrets of the Body: Litigants, Courts, and Modern Medicine
in Egypt
6 From Physiognomy to DNA Testing: Developments in the Establishment
of Paternity
Conclusion: Islamic Expert Witnessing in Comparative Perspective
Appendix: List of Court Decisions
Notes
References
Index
Be the first to know
Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!