In her intervention, Tunisian poetess Arwa ben Dhia chose to spotlight Arwa la Kairouanaise, a pioneering figure in women’s matrimonial rights during the 8th century. Arwa made history by concluding a revolutionary marriage agreement with the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur, stipulating that he could not take another wife or concubine for as long as she lived — an extraordinary clause for its time.
Though Arwa was not a writer, her boldness and progressive vision have left a lasting impression on Arwa ben Dhia’s own work, which often embraces feminist and non-conformist themes. By bringing Arwa’s story to light, Ara ben Dia reminds us that the struggle for women’s rights has deep historical roots and remains a vital source of inspiration for contemporary literature.
