Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

CAIRO — Although the Ramadan 2021 season came to an end May 12, many of the TV series that were shown over that month are still causing controversy among viewers, legal experts and clerics. This particularly was the case with “Newton’s Cradle,” which highlighted thorny issues such as the legality of verbal divorce and marital rape.

The series, directed by Tamer Mohsen and written by Maryam Naoum, dealt with the relationship between Hana (played by actress Mona Zaki) and Hazem (played by actor Mohamed Mamdooh) and the verbal divorce issue.

Hana wanted to marry another man, but she had a hard time proving her divorce from Hazem, who delayed the divorce documentation. Also, through Hana’s relationship with Moaness (played by actor Muhammad Farrag), the series sheds light on marital rape as Moaness tries to rape her.

Tarek Desouki, a member of the Egyptian Film Critics Association, told Al-Monitor that the series tackled many issues, including the troubles of illegal immigration and residence abroad the differences between wrongful killing and self-defense, and the abuse of religion on the part of some religious societies abroad as a means to justify the violation of the laws of the country they reside in. He said media outlets and social networking sites highlighted how the series handled verbal divorce and marital rape, two of the most controversial issues in Egypt.