1 week ago
Egypt Ruling Opens Public Services Path for Rape Survivor’s Daughter
Amal Abdel Hameed’s daughter was born after Abdel Hameed was raped by a school classmate in 2018.
The man was convicted four years later.
Egyptian rules had prevented the girl from getting a birth certificate because her parents were not married.
This meant she could not fully use public services and could not take school exams.
An appeals court has now recognized the convicted man as her father.
The court considered DNA evidence and the rape conviction.
This may allow the girl to enroll officially in school and obtain important documents.
Lawyers and advocates hope the decision will help other children in similar cases.
Egypt’s lawmakers are also discussing possible changes to the relevant law.
An Egyptian appeals court recognized the convicted rapist as the father of a child born from rape.
The ruling relied partly on DNA evidence and was described by lawyers as Egypt’s first of its kind.
The child had been unable to obtain a birth certificate because she was born outside wedlock.
Without official documents, she could attend school but could not take examinations or access many public services.
Advocates hope the judgment and an Al-Azhar edict will help other children and support changes to Egypt’s personal status law.
- Who
- Amal Abdel Hameed, her daughter, the convicted rapist, Egyptian lawyers, Al-Azhar and women’s legal advocates.
- What
- An Egyptian appeals court recognized the convicted rapist as the father of Abdel Hameed’s daughter, potentially enabling her to obtain a birth certificate and public services.
- Where
- Egypt, including the appeals court and Abdel Hameed’s home in the Nile Delta.
- When
- The rape occurred in 2018; the man was convicted four years later, and the written court judgment was issued the month before the Reuters report dated Aug. 25.
- Why
- The ruling addressed the child’s inability to obtain official documents under rules requiring paternity to be established through marriage.
Key facts
- Child’s age
- Nearly eight years old at the time of the report.
- Rape
- The assault occurred in 2018 and was committed by a school classmate, according to Abdel Hameed.
- Conviction
- The man was convicted four years after the rape.
- Court decision
- The appeals court recognized him as the child’s father, relying partly on DNA evidence.
- Previous restrictions
- The child could not obtain a birth certificate, take school exams or fully access public services.
- Religious edict
- An Al-Azhar edict issued in February said DNA testing and the rape conviction could establish paternity in this case.
- Legal reform
- Egypt’s personal status law is under discussion in parliament.
Quotes
Amal Abdel Hameed
Egyptian mother whose daughter was born after she was raped
“I only got my rights when I spoke to the media and made my voice heard. Apart from that, it was just a case moving between courts, being rejected or shelved — nothing more.”
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“It was like I was in a nightmare. For eight years, I’ve been trying to get my rights.”
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