Egypt already may need to revisit women's inheritance law

The recently passed amendment to Egypt's Constitution regarding women's inheritance rights was hailed as a long-awaited breakthrough, but the topic might need additional legislation to ensure full equality for women, including Copts.
Coptic Christian women attend the Coptic mass prayers for the Egyptians beheaded in Libya, at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, February 17, 2015. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi called for a United Nations resolution mandating an international coalition to intervene in Libya after Egypt's airforce bombed Islamic State targets there. Egypt directly intervened for the first time in the conflict in neighbouring Libya on Monday after an Islamic State group in the country released a vide
Coptic Christian women attend the Coptic mass at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 17, 2015. - REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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Nadia Mabrouk
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CAIRO — When Egypt amended its constitution recently to establish penalties for depriving women of their inheritances, the amendment failed to specifically mention Christian women. Some observers think a direct reference is unnecessary, while others say such a legal measure is needed to counter deep-set traditions.

Many Coptic women, especially in rural areas and Upper Egypt, fall victim to the interpretation of customs and cultural norms as "law," and some people apply Sharia provisions to Coptic women.

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