Post by Bozur on Feb 28, 2005 16:54:39 GMT -5
Single Mother Shocks Egypt by Keeping Baby
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 27, 2005
Filed at 5:53 p.m. ET
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Hind el-Hinnawy's story might have provoked little more than gossip in other places. But in conservative Egypt with its taboo on sex talk and deep respect for family, she generated a full-blown scandal when she went public with her decision to bear a child as a single mother and try to prove a popular young actor was the father.
Almost nine months after she sued, a judge has ordered DNA paternity tests.
It began, el-Hinnawy said, when she entered into an ``urfi'' marriage, an unofficial arrangement that has become popular as a way to skirt Islam's ban on premarital sex, with Ahmed el-Fishawy, a 24-year-old TV star.
Urfi marriages have no official contract and are often kept secret. Although a document is signed in front of witnesses, the marriage can be broken simply by destroying that paper.
Such marriages have become more frequent, often for poor Egyptians who cannot afford to marry or as temporary unions for people who want to legitimize their sexual activities in a strict Muslim society with its stricture against premarital sex.
El-Hinnawy said when she told the actor she was pregnant, he refused to admit he was the father of the child or even that the marriage arrangement existed -- so she hauled him into court.
Last Thursday, a judge ordered DNA testing to prove whether el-Fishawy is the father of 4-month-old Leena.
El-Hinnawy, a petite, lively woman wearing a nose ring and no makeup, told The Associated Press her choice to raise Leena on her own has been difficult, but her face lights up when she talks about her daughter.
She said that she was pressured by el-Fishawy and his family to have abortion.
``Even if I wasn't married, I would have kept the baby,'' the 27-year-old art director said. ``I never considered abortion, which I believe is punished by God. I was dying to be a mother.''
Several attempts to call el-Fishawy went unanswered. His lawyer, Mamdouh el-Wessimi, told AP: ``We respect the court's decision, and Ahmed will submit to the test and to its result.''
Feminists saw the case as a chance to fight what they see as the double standards of Egypt's male-dominated society.
``We are living in a very, very hypocritical society,'' el-Hinnawy said. ``I'm not justifying wrongs or demanding deviation. I just decided to stand up for my rights, and tell women they shouldn't be weak and tell Egyptian men to think twice before abusing women this way.''
Others also have spoken for her.
Mufti Ali Gomaa, head of Egypt's highest theological authority, Dar al-Ifta, urged el-Fishawy to recognize Leena, saying that the marriage had been valid because it had had a witness and that he had a responsibility to the child.
Others defended el-Fishawy, seeing him as a pious man due to the religious programs he hosted, which have since been canceled amid the scandal.
El-Hinnawy and Leena live with her parents in their villa in a Cairo suburb. She said her parents, both university professors, were initially shocked and angry to learn she had been secretly married and was pregnant, but eventually came to support her decision.
Their support was unusual in Muslim societies where premarital sex or urfi marriages are often considered dishonorable to the whole family.
She said the events of the last year gave her the inspiration to fight. ``I want to devote my life to human rights and women rights issues,'' she said.
She is writing a diary to answer her daughter's questions when the child is old enough to start asking about her father.
``I will be her friend; I will teach her to be responsible for her decisions,'' el-Hinnawy said.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 27, 2005
Filed at 5:53 p.m. ET
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Hind el-Hinnawy's story might have provoked little more than gossip in other places. But in conservative Egypt with its taboo on sex talk and deep respect for family, she generated a full-blown scandal when she went public with her decision to bear a child as a single mother and try to prove a popular young actor was the father.
Almost nine months after she sued, a judge has ordered DNA paternity tests.
It began, el-Hinnawy said, when she entered into an ``urfi'' marriage, an unofficial arrangement that has become popular as a way to skirt Islam's ban on premarital sex, with Ahmed el-Fishawy, a 24-year-old TV star.
Urfi marriages have no official contract and are often kept secret. Although a document is signed in front of witnesses, the marriage can be broken simply by destroying that paper.
Such marriages have become more frequent, often for poor Egyptians who cannot afford to marry or as temporary unions for people who want to legitimize their sexual activities in a strict Muslim society with its stricture against premarital sex.
El-Hinnawy said when she told the actor she was pregnant, he refused to admit he was the father of the child or even that the marriage arrangement existed -- so she hauled him into court.
Last Thursday, a judge ordered DNA testing to prove whether el-Fishawy is the father of 4-month-old Leena.
El-Hinnawy, a petite, lively woman wearing a nose ring and no makeup, told The Associated Press her choice to raise Leena on her own has been difficult, but her face lights up when she talks about her daughter.
She said that she was pressured by el-Fishawy and his family to have abortion.
``Even if I wasn't married, I would have kept the baby,'' the 27-year-old art director said. ``I never considered abortion, which I believe is punished by God. I was dying to be a mother.''
Several attempts to call el-Fishawy went unanswered. His lawyer, Mamdouh el-Wessimi, told AP: ``We respect the court's decision, and Ahmed will submit to the test and to its result.''
Feminists saw the case as a chance to fight what they see as the double standards of Egypt's male-dominated society.
``We are living in a very, very hypocritical society,'' el-Hinnawy said. ``I'm not justifying wrongs or demanding deviation. I just decided to stand up for my rights, and tell women they shouldn't be weak and tell Egyptian men to think twice before abusing women this way.''
Others also have spoken for her.
Mufti Ali Gomaa, head of Egypt's highest theological authority, Dar al-Ifta, urged el-Fishawy to recognize Leena, saying that the marriage had been valid because it had had a witness and that he had a responsibility to the child.
Others defended el-Fishawy, seeing him as a pious man due to the religious programs he hosted, which have since been canceled amid the scandal.
El-Hinnawy and Leena live with her parents in their villa in a Cairo suburb. She said her parents, both university professors, were initially shocked and angry to learn she had been secretly married and was pregnant, but eventually came to support her decision.
Their support was unusual in Muslim societies where premarital sex or urfi marriages are often considered dishonorable to the whole family.
She said the events of the last year gave her the inspiration to fight. ``I want to devote my life to human rights and women rights issues,'' she said.
She is writing a diary to answer her daughter's questions when the child is old enough to start asking about her father.
``I will be her friend; I will teach her to be responsible for her decisions,'' el-Hinnawy said.