Egypt launches first women's fatwa councils

Many Egyptian Muslim women are happy with the launch of the first four women's fatwa councils, as they can now ask female preachers for religious fatwas on private matters.
Females gather during morning prayers for Eid al-Adha at Al-Shami Mosque in the Nile Delta city of el-Mahalla el-Kubra, some 120 kilometers (74 miles) north of the capital Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2021.
Females gather during morning prayers for Eid al-Adha at Al-Shami Mosque in the Nile Delta city of el-Mahalla el-Kubra, some 120 kilometers (74 miles) north of the capital Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2021. - Mohamed El-Saied/AFP via Getty Images
HagarSaeedMohammed.jpeg
Hagar Saeed Mohamed

CAIRO — Women flocked to a mosque in southern Cairo May 21 to receive fatwas (religious rulings) on private female issues from a female preacher who is present at the mosque on Saturdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Nevine Mokhtar is one of four female preachers recently authorized by the government to issue fatwas on women’s affairs.

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