The BBC reports that a Jordanian woman recently became the first to receive a divorce under a new law that allows women as well as men to seek divorce.
Jordan used to allow only men to seek divorces — a fairly common legal restriction in most Muslim countries.
The law was changed earlier this year, however, to allow women to file for divorce provided the women first forfeit any right to any sort of financial compensation (the woman who won her divorce had to forego a dowry she had received from her husband when they were married).
Source:
Jordan woman ‘wins right to divorce’. The BBC, May 13, 2002.