The State of Women’s Rights in the Middle East

The Takeaway

Last week, the Muslim Brotherhood publicly affirmed its longstanding fundamental views on women for the first time since the party came to power under President Mohamed Morsi.
In response to a proposed United Nations declaration to condemn violence against women, the Brotherhood issued a statement asserting that wives should not have the right to file legal complaints against their husbands for rape, that daughters should not have the same inheritance rights as sons, and that the husband must have “guardianship” over his wife, recommending the “husband’s consent in matters like travel, work or use of contraception.”
These views are largely derisive among women’s rights activists, who have faced an uphill battle to secure safety and freedom for women in the Middle East. But the views of the Brotherhood are embedded in traditionalist culture, and many conservative Egyptian women support the doctrine.
Hafsa Halawa  is an Egyptian lawyer and former employee of the National Democratic Institute.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!