(Cairo, June 20th, 2021) A new episode of Nehad’s Stories TV show presented by Nehad Abulkomsan, senior lawyer and ECWR’s Chairwoman, in which addressed the importance of a just and fair personal status law for all parties in an episode entitled ‘Why is Personal Status Law Important.‘
Nehad indicated that many young men and women build their choices for a life partner based on fictional foundations, that are unrealistic. As a result, we find that the girl imagines that her husband is the knight with whom she can fulfill all the dreams that she could not achieve in her father’s house, while the young man expects that he will be the center of the universe for his wife. This relationship, which is based on improper foundations, thus fails.
Abulkomsan advised young men and women that marriage should be based on realistic foundations, which are love and respect, and to learn how to manage differences between the two parties. After a short period of marriage, the husband and wife return to their work and preoccupations, and it is important to create a common space for dialogue and discussion between the two parties.
Therefore, it is necessary, once the couple is engaged, to open a space for discussion and dialogue about what each individual likes and dislikes, and to determine how to manage differences after marriage.
Nehad emphasized that one of the most important rules for managing differences, is that no one should ever insult the other party, raise their voice, nor resort to coercion and blackmail to make one party perform a certain act.
Abulkomsan stated that if the management of the differences between the spouses fails, the law and the court will be resorted to. And so, the personal status law must be fair and just to both parties, which is what the personal status law in Egypt lacks, as it is based on focusing on one legal doctrine, which is the doctrine of Imam Abu Hanifa, and neglecting the rest of the legal doctrines, in addition to neglecting the ever-changing societal developments.
The episode used an infographic to present the explanatory note to the Personal Status Law No. 25 of 1929, which was presented by Imam Mohammed Abdo, Sheikh of Al-Azhar at the time. The explanatory note focused on the importance of adopting the purposes of legitimacy, and not a specific legal doctrine. This is what the current Personal Status Law lacks, meaning that the Personal Status Law 100 years ago was better than the current law.
Nehad emphasized that there are jurisprudence today that is concerned with reforming the personal status law to be fair and equitable for all parties to marriage, which was presented to us by Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar. The personal status law regulates legal issues in marriage, and it also regulates life issues for both parties to marriage and children.
In the inspiring personality segment, the episode hosted Ms. Amal Tawfiq, Director of the Complaints Unit at the National Council for Women, who confirmed that the Council received, within four months, more than 8000 complaints, whether through the hotline or by attending the council’s headquarters, and indicated that complaints are mostly on the hotline to inquire about Khul’ and divorce procedures, while most of those who attend the council’s headquarters want to file alimony lawsuits for children.
She pointed out that the National Council for Women provides psychological and social support services to women in addition to legal support. The council also disseminates knowledge and raises awareness for women and men, with the aim of reducing problems that may arise between them. In many cases, the council has acted as a mediator for reconciliation between husbands and wives.
“Nehad’s Stories” is a television program concerned with women’s rights by simplifying all the knowledge and evidence produced by civil society, and related to “women’s empowerment” in all political, economic, social, and legal fields and reducing violence. It deals with a simple approach, which is storytelling, analysis, and interaction with the public through questions.
The TV show is shown on Al-Qahera wa Al-Nas TV channel on Saturdays at 5:30 pm, and repeats on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 am. program is shown on Al-Cairo and Al-Nas channel every Saturday at 05:30 pm, and it will be repeated on Al-Qahera wa Al-Nas (1) on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11.30 am, and on Al-Qahera wa Al-Nas (2) on Mondays and Fridays at 2.30 pm, on Tuesday at 7.30 pm, and on Wednesday at 7 pm.
