Hanan was sentenced one year in prison, Can ‘Tahet El Wesaya’ contribute to bringing change in the guardianship law in Egypt?

 

Hanan ( Mona Zaki) was sentenced to one year in prison in the finale of the popular series “Tahet El Wesaya” ( Under guardianship).

 

Two Egyptian MPs have called for a review of Egypt’s guardianship law, prompted by the success of “Tahet El Wesaya” series.

 

 

 

The two MPs Amira El Adly and Mohamed Ismail submitted separate requests to the speaker of the house and to the justice minister to examine the impact of a law that critics say unfairly targets women and harms families.

 

According to the Egyptian guardianship law when a father dies, legal guardianship over any of his children under the age of 18 and their inheritance goes to their paternal grandfather or to a guardian nominated by the father , leaving the mother with no say.

 

The 15-episode drama, " Tahet El Wesaya" which began on April 7 and aired its final episode on Friday, follows a mother of two as she struggles to maintain her life after the death of her husband.

 

 

In the series, the protagonist, played by Mona Zaki, discovers she no longer has control over her husband’s fishing boat – her only source of income – leaving her struggling to pay rent.

 

She also finds out the law gives her father-in-law the right to take her children out of school without her permission.

 

The acclaimed British daily newspaper “The Guardian” described “Tahet El Wesaya” series as the hit TV drama that sparked calls for reform of Egypt’s guardianship law.