Skip to main content

Inheritance plan could be game-changer for Egyptian women

A draft law before Egypt’s parliament could help solve the problem of women being deprived of their inheritance, at least in legal terms, but overcoming traditions and customs will not be easy.
Egypt's Prime Minister Hisham Qandil (R) talks during a session of the upper house of the parliament in Cairo, on a dam being built by Ethiopia, June 10, 2013. Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi said on Monday he would keep "all options" open to defend Egypt's water supply from being affected by the giant new dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile but he added that Cairo did not want war. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS ENVIRONMENT ENERGY) - RTX10J0J
Read in 

CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament is considering a move to ensure rightful heirs — including women — get their inheritances.

Six months after Egypt’s government amended the inheritance law to punish anyone who deliberately denies an inheritance to those entitled to it, parliament is discussing additional amendments. A draft law would create a judicial body specifically tasked with actually restituting inheritances to their rightful heirs.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.