Egypt provides one of the most liberal environments for
women in the entire Arab world. Equal status to males and
a variety of civil rights were made possible by the women’s
rights movement that began in the mid-1980s. In recent years,
several women’s groups have prompted the Egyptian govern-
ment to recognize the role played by women and have encour-
aged their participation as well. A key factor in this revival has
been broadcasting that emphasizes the importance of Sharia.
Islamic law provides equal opportunity to men and women. It
also applies to nearly all aspects of Egypt’s Islamic society. In
the last few years, the rights of women and their children have
been protected by a series of constitutional amendments. For
example, community services and legal assistance were made
available to divorced women. And in 2003, President Mubarak
appointed Tahany al-Gebaly as the first female chief justice of
Egypt’s Supreme Court, thereby opening a new door of oppor-
tunity for women.