President Sisi biggest supporter of Egyptian women: justice minister

CAIRO – 19 October 2021: Egypt’s Minister of Justice Omar Marwan said, Tuesday that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is the biggest supporter of Egyptian women.

“President Sisi has always been keen to guarantee Egyptian women their full constitutional rights,” Marwan said, adding that Egyptian women have been empowered to work as judges at the Council of State for the first time thanks to Sisi's relevant directives.

The minister made the remarks during a ceremony held Tuesday to honor 98 newly appointed female judges at the Council of State after they were sworn in earlier in the day.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el Qabbag, along with President of the State Lawsuits Authority Hussein Mostafa, Head of the Administrative Prosecution Authority Ezzat Abu Zeid, Chairman of the Syndicate of Journalists Diaa Rashwan, Chairperson of the National Council for Women Maya Morsy, Head of the National Council for Human Rights Moshira Khattab, and Executive Director of the National Training Academy Rascha Ragheb.

A number of women judges arrived at Egypt’s State Council Tuesday morning to sworn-in, to be the first batch of female members at the council.

In March, a decision was issue to appoint a number of women judges were appointed at the State Council and the prosecution for the first time, in implementation to the directions of the President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, and in line with the country’s plan to empower women to reach different positions.

On June 3, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Judicial Bodies made the historic decision to approve women’s appointments as judges and prosecutors to the Administrative Judiciary.

The appointed female judges will occupy a position of (delegate) or a position of (deputy) in the Council.

Ahead of taking the oath, women judges expressed their happiness with what they considered as a great historical incident.

“The State Council is the bulwark of rights and freedoms.. we swear that we live up to the responsibility, and preserve the rights of Egyptian citizens,” said Counselor Iman Sharif before she was sworn in.

For Counselor Hind Ahmed, she said “this is a great day to us to be the first batch of female members of the council, which was established in 1946, and we hope to be a good addition to the council.. the appointment is a victory for Egyptian women.”