No Divorce for Women

If an Egyptian woman asks her husband for a divorce and he refuses, she can appeal to the judge to get a divorce (khul3) if she gives back to the husband the marriage settlement: i.e. is she gives up her financial rights. Only women who could afford to do that benefited from this. Even they had to to face legal obstacles and unsympathetic courts.

But the Islamists in the Egyptian parliament want to make sure this crumb of a law is repealed: they argue it encourages women to get divorces and ruin the Muslim family. Only men should have the that exclusive right. Although it is based on Islamic laws, they reject it as unIslamic. They tarnish it by associating it with Susan Mubarak, the wife of deposed Husni Mubarak--a strategy they will be using to dismantle whatever few rights Egyptian women won with long had work (not with the largess of rulers). 

Is anybody surprised?

Culture? Who Cares about Culture?

Well, Egyptian Islamists care a LOT about culture. They always did. So they are now trying to institutionalize their culture wars instead of just depending on the "charity" of the Musbarak regime. How would this influence literary (and artistic) works? Well.  They thought about that and according to one of their leaders:

"controversies about literary works should be resolved either by means of “the popular choice” or by “resorting to Al-Azhar.”  


Here you have it: either popular choice or Al Azhar will determine if a literary work is worth reading. This might actually lead to censoring most of humanity's literary heritage, including the Muslim one. 


To sum it up in Egyptian colloquialism: "Ya Kharabi!!!!!"

Three hundred Egyptians

Three hundred men and women demonstrated in Egypt to protest on behalf of Samira Ibrahim and the other victims of the military virginity tests. Three hundred??????? Three hundred??? By the standards of Egyptian demonstrations, this is like Nobody Showed UP!!! What happened to the mobilizers of millions?  What happened to the mobilizers of thousands?? Is Samira Ibrahim not a worthy enough cause?

The good news:

There are three hundred gutsy men and women in Egypt who refuse to shut up! As long as they are speaking, there is hope for us all.

I always thought Umm Kulthum needs updating...

Rape her then Marry her Law

After the suicide of the teenager who was forced to marry her rapist, and the pressure by Moroccan women activists, Morocco is to amend the law that states a man who marries his rape victim will not face criminal charges. About time. Of course, that does not mean it's the end. It's only the beginning.

فحص عذرية Virginity Test

Be afraid! Be very afraid!