New Egyptian group seeks to defend men's rights in divorce
The first association defending men’s rights was recently established in Egypt, in light of the growing calls of women’s movements and organizations to grant women wider rights in the personal status law, which is currently under the amendment.
Hussein Sobhy, a 35-year-old Egyptian lawyer, said that since he and his wife agreed to divorce, his visitation rights only allow him to spend three hours a week with his 5-year-old daughter.
Even the three hours are not guaranteed, he said, adding that out of nine visits, his wife only brought his daughter five times.
He said his ex-wife pulled their daughter out of the school where he teaches so he wouldn’t be able to see her.
Sobhy is one of hundreds of divorced fathers caught in custody battles, prompting him to join Egypt’s first-ever association defending men’s rights. The association was officially registered by the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity on June 9 under the name The Egyptian Association for Defending the Rights of Men and Children in the Egyptian Family Law.
