Sisi expresses deep respect for Egyptian women, reassures them about personal status law

CAIRO – 21 March 2021: On Mother’s Day, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for a standing ovation for women, emphasizing that they are the “main hero” in the state’s plans and policies.

He reassured women that the new personal status law will only come out “balanced,” reiterating he would not sponsor a law that does not do justice to women. Many women on social media voiced their serious concerns that the new law may undermine their rights to self-determination and to partake in crucial decisions in their children’s lives.

However, the president said several state institutions are considering all inputs and are engaging in a societal dialogue, thanking Al-Azhar for contributing a “progressive vision” of the law to the state.

“The law’s objective is the interest of people. We only want to do something that makes people happier and their lives easier according to the changes that happened to the society,” Sisi said.

“Divorce happens, but it’s difficult especially for children…laws are not everything. The basis is us as a society. Are we ready to create a proper environment for the children whose family did not succeed?” he added.

Sisi said a minimum a parent could do in tribute to the failed marriage is to talk to the children about the experience in a positive light, rather than talk badly about each other in front of their kids.

Before Sisi’s speech, a number of ministers called this day in Egypt the “golden era” for women, citing the number of initiatives empowering women socially and economically. For his part, the president said women were always the main reason behind massive national projects.

As an example, Sisi said that eliminating dozens of slums and relocating them in proper homes was to remove women and girls from streets and hazardous living conditions. He hinted at increasing the budget for this project from L.E.150 billion to L.E. 200 billion.

But he also asked people in the countryside to rethink their marriage traditions of extravagant furnishings, appliances and utensil sets, much of which is unnecessary. He referred to the state’s initiative to pay the debts of women who were jailed for failing to pay back, and it is understood that the majority of those women borrowed so much money to buy extravagant things for their newly-married daughters.