Women judges have presided over a hearing of Egypt’s State Council for the first time in the country’s latest move towards female empowerment.
A total of 98 females were inducted across two ceremonies and sat on their first hearings for the council, a powerful tribunal that reviews draft laws and rules over administrative matters and legal disputes in which the state is a party.
Until the sessions on Saturday and Sunday, the State Council had been one of two Egyptian judicial bodies that consisted of all-male benches.
The women had been sworn in by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in October, who decreed at the time that the country’s prosecution service — the other all-male judicial body — should also include female members.
“Today is a historic day for all Egyptian women,” said Yasmine Helmy, one of the presiding judges at Sunday’s State Council session.
“But for me on a personal level, this has been a dream of mine since I was in university. So you can imagine how happy and proud I am.”
The State Council lauded the event as an important step forward for Egypt’s Vision 2030, a national plan that has become one of the cornerstones of Mr El Sisi's government.
Maya Morsi, president of the National Council for Women, attended the ceremony on Saturday. In an impassioned address, she paid tribute to Egyptian lawyer Aisha Rateb.
Rateb was a respected politician who, after serving as Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs from 1974-1977, went on to become Egypt’s first female ambassador, to Denmark.
“For women to be entrusted with such an important responsibility in the state’s affairs is a huge honour to me,” Maha El Tantawy, another of the council’s new members told The National. “The solemnity of today’s ceremony reminds us of the responsibility that has now been placed on women to play their part in Egypt’s future.”
Women are among Mr El Sisi’s top constituents. Since he assumed the presidency in 2014, he has toughened penalties on sexual harassment and rape, as well as outlawing FGM.
A constitutional amendment in 2018 gave women 25 per cent of parliamentary seats, a percentage hitherto unseen in Egypt.
Additionally, Mr El Sisi’s Cabinet has a record eight women ministers.
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
Trippier bio
Date of birth September 19, 1990
Place of birth Bury, United Kingdom
Age 26
Height 1.74 metres
Nationality England
Position Right-back
Foot Right
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions