First Egyptian woman to file for divorce under new law

In 2000, a 32 year old Egyptian housewife became the first woman to file for a divorce without having to prove physical or psychological abuse. Under Egypt’s Islamic law, Wafa Mosaad Gabr could not divorce her husband simply because she didn’t want to be married to him anymore. So, for four years she begged him to grant her a divorce and he refused. With the help of a Women’s Legal Aid Centre, Gabr was finally able to divorce her husband and become the first woman to do so on grounds of incompatibility. The new law, which was approved by then President Hosni Mubarak, was welcomed by women’s rights activists who had campaigned for years to change the 1929 law allowing women to file for divorce only on grounds of physical or psychological abuse. Under the new law, a woman can file for divorce on grounds of incompatibility. However, she has to return the dowry that he paid for her and give up all financial rights. Women’s right s activists still feel that the latter part of the law still needs to be amended as it will be difficult for poor women to return dowry and relinquish all financial rights.