How new Egyptian parliament is empowering those with disabilities

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Khalid Hanafi, a visually impaired member of parliament, said that Egypt is still a very young democracy and the presence of people with disabilities in the legislature will help with addressing issues facing this group.
Blind lawyer Khaled Hanafy smiles next to his wife Sherien Fathy, who is also blind, near their son Yehia and daughter Rahma at their home in Cairo March 5, 2014. Sherien, 32, a graduate of the College of Arts? Arabic department who works as a specialist manager at the General Petroleum Corporation, hopes the government will do more to help disabled people to find jobs and contribute to the economy. On March 8 activists around the globe celebrate International Women's Day, which dates back to the beginning
Blind lawyer Khalid Hanafi smiles next to his wife, Sherien Fathy, who is also blind, near their son, Yehia, and daughter, Rahma, at their home in Cairo, March 5, 2014. - REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Walaa Hussein
@walaahuseen
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CAIRO — The unprecedented inclusion of nine people with disabilities in the Egyptian parliament raises questions as to whether it will bring about legal advantages for such persons in Egypt. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Khalid Hanafi, a visually impaired representative and one of the 28 parliamentarians appointed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said that he was preparing a series of interpellations and briefing requests to submit to the government. These would cover a number of issues, most notably rights for people with disabilities and other social issues.

The text of the interview follows:

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