A recent proposal in Egypt calling for "women to receive half of the husband's wealth upon divorce" has stirred controversy. Opinions have been divided, with some viewing the proposal as a "disadvantage to men" and "encouraging women to divorce," while others see it as a way to "protect women's rights." The debate reignited after Abir Al-Ansari, head of the Divorced Women's Club, expressed her support for the proposal in recent television statements, describing it as "an acceptable idea that could be implemented for women to support themselves." She noted that "the idea is not alien to Western societies."
Al-Ansari’s supportive comments attracted significant attention on social media, generating mixed reactions between approval and rejection, alongside ongoing discussions around the rights of women and men and family laws.
**Women's Rights**
Dr. Amina Nasir, a former member of the Religious Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, was the first to propose this idea, advocating for it. She argued that it would ensure justice for women who are divorced, especially considering the thousands who find themselves divorced after many years of marriage, leaving their homes without any assets or rights.
Supporters of the initiative believe that the proposal serves as a deterrent for husbands contemplating divorce, prompting them to reflect on their decision and its consequences. They argue that implementing such a proposal could help reduce the high divorce rates in Egypt, thereby fostering family stability. In 2020, Egypt recorded approximately 218,000 divorce cases, compared to 225,000 in 2019 and 201,000 in 2018, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.
**Challenges for Divorced Women**
Yasmin Mohamed, director of the "Mothers Making the Impossible Possible" campaign, commented on the issue to "Sky News Arabia," observing that "most cases of divorce in Egypt are for harm, which is hard to prove." For instance, wives often struggle to find witnesses to confirm that their husbands abused or mistreated them, leading many to opt for divorce settlements that forfeit their rights.
She added that "most divorced women in Egypt cannot obtain their legal rights after divorce, and many cases involve waivers due to the difficulty of divorce." Therefore, Yasmin feels that the proposal for divorced women to receive half of their husband's wealth is "far removed from the reality. When divorced women find it challenging to secure their legal entitlements now, how can we discuss them receiving half of the husband's wealth?"
However, she emphasizes the importance of ensuring that if the marriage lasted for over 15 years, there should be alternative provisions for divorced women, stating that "No woman at the age of 50 or 60 should be left on the street after dedicating her life to her husband and children, only for the husband to remarry and neglect her." She calls for financial provisions that guarantee a dignified life for divorced women.
**Conditional Implementation**
Psychological counselor Dr. Gihan Al-Nammrasi commented on the ongoing debate about the proposal. She stated, "Marriage is built on compassion, bonding, and mutual respect; the husband provides financial support while the wife is entitled to inheritance upon his death and alimony after divorce."
Dr. Al-Nammrasi suggested that the proposal for divorced women to receive half of their husband's wealth could be applicable under certain conditions, primarily that the marriage lasted at least 15 years.
She noted that "when a marriage is stable, the Egyptian woman often becomes a support and a safe haven for her husband, investing in him, especially if she has paused her career to facilitate his success." This woman deserves to have her rights guaranteed after spending many years dedicating herself to her husband, which justifies discussing her entitlement to half of his wealth following a long marriage.
Setting a 15-year minimum for entitlement aims to counter concerns that the proposal encourages divorce. Dr. Al-Nammrasi argued that it would be unjust for a woman married for only a year or two to claim a share of her husband’s wealth if she did not contribute to its creation through support.
**Encouragement of Divorce?**
In contrast to the supporters, opponents believe the proposal could lead to increased divorce rates. Relationship expert Mona Abu Shenab, who runs a polygamy initiative, livestreamed her criticism of the proposals on Facebook, describing them as "encouragement for divorce," with detrimental implications for society and family stability, warning of dire consequences for such proposals, which she sees as unfair to men.
Abu Shenab argued that the call for divorced women to obtain half of their husband's wealth, as well as retention of the marital home, alimony, and any dowry, incentivizes divorce purely for financial gain, akin to a "business venture" where women marry and subsequently divorce to claim money, ultimately increasing the number of divorced women.
Additionally, Egyptian journalist Amani Azzam expressed her opposition, describing the proposal as a "ridiculous call" that incites immorality among men and women outside of marriage. She highlighted that many young people struggle to provide for themselves, often working multiple jobs for minimal wages, making them hesitant to marry. She questioned the rationale behind such proposals.
