Jobs Still Forbidden to Women

 ‘Adil Labayt, a local development minister, said that he was not convinced of appointing a woman as governor because many women are not qualified for such a job. Women living in rural regions in Egypt face many challenges because of the lack of education and social services available to them compared to women living in the cities. Although the lack of women appointed to political positions was one of the grievances raised in the January Revolution, many such positions are still forbidden to women.

 (2 May, 2015, Vetogate, Muhammad Zakariyyā)

The National Council for Women to Discuss the Obstacles Facing Women in the Egyptian Media at UNESCO

 The National Council for Women announced that it will participate in the United Nation’s Conference for Education, Science, and Culture on 3 May. The President of the Council will deliver remarks on the state of women in the media in Egypt, which includes the obstacles and dangers that face women working in Egyptian media.

 (2 May, 2015, al-Hadath News, No Writer)

 Read more here.

Doctor ‘Alī Jum ̔a: Refusing the Hijāb is Infidelity

 Doctor ‘Alī Jum’a, the previous Grand Mufti of Egypt, said that wearing the hijāb is incumbent upon all Muslim women at all times, even during prayer. In an interview he said that not wearing a hijab is equivalent to refusing prayer and infidelity. He emphasized that it is required for Muslim women to cover everything except for the face, adding that the Salafīs, the ‘Ulamā ̓, and the general public agree on this point.

 (2 May, 2015, al-Wafd, Muhammad Nasr)

 Read more here.

American Report: Religious Freedom in Danger in Egypt but Sīsī is the Best Alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood

 An American report drew attention to the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Egypt since the election of President Sīsī while conceding that he was by far a better alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood. The report went on to praise the tone of religious tolerance that President Sīsī adopted, and placed blame on other Egyptian authorities for not doing enough to protect religious minorities in the country.

 (2 May, 2015, al-Mūjaz, No Writer)

 Read more here.

Brother of ISIL Victim: The Church of Martyrs has not Been Built Yet

 A brother of one of the Coptic Egyptians killed by ISIL reported that extremists outside of the village are causing problems in his village due to the building of the ‘Egyptian Church of Martyrs in Libya.’ He added that the church has not been built yet, saying that the Diocese was busy building a fence around the area where it is going to be built. He also said that all of the problems in the village are caused by external parties and that he can’t imagine a day of violence and in fighting between the people of his village.

 (2 May, 2015, Vetogate, Raymūn Nājī)

 Read more here.

Civil Society Organizations: We are not Involved in Politics

 Recent reports of unknown actors financing NGOs have begun to surface in the media. These elements reportedly finance NGOs and use them as a façade for political activities that stir up problems in street alongside efforts that are nominally engaged in development work.

 (2 May 2015, al-Wafd, Mahmūd ‘Abd al-Wārith)

 Read more here.

President of Victims of Personal Status Law Union: traditional marriage is not a substitute for civil marriage

The Union for the Victims of Personal Status of Copts rejected the notion circulating throughout the media that traditional marriage can be a substitute for civil marriage. The President of the Union, Hānī ‘Izzat, reported that there are no statistics on the number of traditional marriages among the Copts of Egypt and that this type of marriage is rejected by society because of the harm it causes and its illegality.

 (2 May, 2015, al-Mīthāq al-‘Arabī, No Writer)

 Read more here.