Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Winner in paternity case sees precedent
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 06 - 2006


Reuters
CAIRO: A woman who rocked Egyptian society by taking a famous actor to court to prove he was the father of her child is urging thousands of other women in a similar position to speak out and get help. Hind El-Hinnawy, 28, told Reuters on Wednesday that the relative speed with which she won her high-profile case last week could help hasten resolution of the estimated 14,000 paternity cases stuck in Egypt s glacial legal system. The judge on television said after the verdict that he wishes that other judges would take this ruling and work on it, Hinnawy said, adding that many cases last as long as five years. He said he wished that these paternity cases would take less time, and I guess the number of paternity cases will increase and will take a shorter time, she added. Hinnawy set Egypt s media ablaze two years ago when she dared to take to court actor Ahmed El-Fishawy, well known for fronting a television program promoting religious morality, to establish their daughter Leena s right to use his name. The pair conceived Leena outside of traditional marriage. Hinnawy said they had agreed a common-law or urfi marriage, which would oblige El-Fishawy to give his name to his daughter. El-Fishawy denied any such marriage took place but the court ruled that he is the child s father. He was not immediately available for comment. Middle Eastern women who conceive without an acknowledged partner sometimes face ridicule, ostracism and even death by the hand of a male relative in so-called "honor killings. Rights groups say their children are forever known as illegitimate and are discriminated against because they do not carry their father s name. Most will have difficulty marrying, and many cannot access state services for lack of a valid birth certificate. They are ostracized, nobody will not want to marry them, they will be seen as bastards ... [Hinnawy s] bravery is beyond comprehension. Usually her family would have killed her or disowned her, said women s rights activist Iman Bibars. Hinnawy said she was now volunteering with non-government organizations (NGOs) to encourage other women who have filed paternity cases to speak out and get help. Some women do not have sufficient witnesses to call upon because shame makes them reluctant to bring others into the case. Others do not have adequate legal representation. What we do is go to court and try to talk to people who are waiting for their court cases. If they talk we ve got the case ... NGOs will help them and get lawyers for them, because some of them do not have lawyers, Hinnawy said. The judge in her paternity case decided El-Fishawy was the father by establishing that the pair had had a relationship akin to marriage, Hinnawy said, adding that El-Fishawy had admitted to having sexual relations with her. Critics of the judge s ruling say that without the stigma of illegitimate children, more women would have pre-marital sex. But those who support the ruling say it will make men think twice about casual sex. Under Egyptian law a child has the right to inherit from her father if she takes his name, and the child s mother has the right to demand maintenance money. He should be responsible for what he did. I wanted his name. I did not want him to be a daddy if he does not want to be a daddy ... I can be a mum and dad, Hinnawy said. I was so scared if she grew up and kids made fun of her. People like to gossip. Parents gossip in front of the kids. They would say You don t have a name? Why don t you have a name like us? she added, referring to her daughter, Leena El-Fishawy.


Clic here to read the story from its source.