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Arab Culture/Having a second wedding?

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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 5/10/2009


Question
Dear we're already married in Pakistan and we're both Muslim. the thing is we want to get married(civil wedding) also in Philippines as my parents were busy and didnt attend our wedding in PAkistan. Can we get married in Philippines thru civil wedding? coz they said my husband needs to stay in Philippines for more than 11 days so the marriage contract will be valid but he cannot take 2weeks leave.he'll stay in Philippines exactly 11days. and we are already married in PAkistan. im really upset and dont know what to do. could you please tell me the best things to do?

Answer
Greetings Maria, and thanks for your question.  I'm sorry I don't know much about policies in the Philippines, but I do have a thought--is it the most important to you and your family that you have a second (civil) wedding, or is it more important to have a celebratory gathering with all your family and friends in the Philippines?  I might recommend the latter if the certificate itself doesn't matter as much as the togetherness.

My husband and I did this for our wedding--where we live is too far for either of our families to travel, so we held the ceremony at my parents' hometown, then traveled to El Salvador for a wedding reception there with his family, then to Chicago to celebrate with all our friends together.  In addition to the fun of having a "three-month" wedding, we got to see and share a special occasion with all the people we love!

Good luck to you, and I hope this helps!

peace,

Le Anne

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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