Cairo, March 24, 2021
The Egyptian Center for Women Rights (ECWR) welcomes the request of the Public Prosecution to appeal the verdict issued for the innocence of the perpetuator accused in the abduction and coercion of Amal Abdelhamid, issued in November of last year. The reliance on statements of the accused came without regard to the remainder of the evidence or facts.
While ECWR welcomes the appeal of the Public Prosecution, which possesses the jurisdiction after all methods of litigation and appeal have been exhausted by the victim, we find that a retrial is important for the following reasons:
- Redressing the survivor, who is the first victim.
- Supporting the second victim, a newborn girl, whose lineage has not been proven, despite being confirmed by DNA analysis
ECWR demands: –
The necessity of proving lineage which has resulted from rape, based on the use of oppression and force. According to Egyptian law that the child is not entitled to the paternity of the father if he denies it, but the father has the right to relate any child to him, even if it results from adultery, which harms the child and negates justice. ECWR also calls for more work to support the child’s rights as a first priority.
Nehad Abolkomsan, lawyer and president of the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, also demands: –
- A legislative amendment; anyone who deludes a girl into marriage and does not fulfill his promise is punished, and it is viewed as tainted consent that is not considered in the case of sexual intercourse with a female.
- Issuing a law to protect women from violence and implementing mechanisms to facilitate reporting and protect survivors and those who report a crime.
