Islam’s first female notary ready to start
Joseph Mayton; 1/5/08
Almost two months after Amal Soliman became the gem child of Arab world feminists when she was appointed as the Islamic world’s first female maazun (notary), the men in Egypt’s Ministry of Justice still have not given their seal of approval. Nevertheless, the latent women’s groups across the region have taken her March appointment as a sign of optimism. Soliman, 32, grabbed national and international headlines in late February when her successful application was made public. She beat out 10 other candidates, all men, for the position of Islamic notary, which authorizes her to conduct weddings, sign marriage certificates and authorize divorces. With her degree in Islamic law from the University of Zagazig, in the Nile Delta, Soliman is qualified to take on the challenges, her supporters argue. Indeed, the Egyptian Justice Minister Mamdouh Mari said in a statement: “Soliman’s nomination depended on her abilities rather than on her gender.” But there are many critics. Islamic scholars, intellectuals and some citizens bemoan Soliman conducting weddings by arguing that a woman has unique limitations that get in the way of the job.
See: http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/05/01/islams_first_female_notary_ready_to_start/5599/
Tags: Egypt, Religion, Womens Rights