Egypt

The controversial mock presidential elections held by the youth of the Muslim Brotherhood in order to form an Islamic government that works as a model of administrating the state under a civil Islamic government. The elections became controversial when the idea was raise to nominate a woman for the presidency. Moreover, the administration of the "Muslim Brotherhood's Youth Forum," which was responsible for running the elections, refused the request of the forum's Muslim Sisters’ group to be nominated to the presidency. The website's administration declared its insistence to adhering to Islamic law, which states that women are not allowed to be nominated as presidents of a state.

ECWR was shocked when it received the decision of the State Council, Egypt’s Administrative Court, to defer the appointment of female judges, although consensus of the Special Council was reached, allowing women to be appointed to judicial positions. The State Council attributed reason for the delay in approving the appointment of female judges to regulation problems, including a lack of safe and secure places for women to stay when presiding over a trial and a lack of nurseries for their children.

The year 2009 has highlighted the recurring situations confronting defenders in the southern and eastern Mediterranean. These situations are closely linked to the nature of their activities but they are also related to broad political trends at the national and international levels. It is in this context that the Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) increased its responsibilities and provided assistance to 36 defenders in 2009.

La justice égyptienne a annoncé le 3 janvier que les étudiantes portant le niqab seraient désormais interdites d’examen. Elle donne ainsi raison au ministère de l’Éducation supérieure qui, par cette mesure, déclare vouloir éviter les fraudes. Entre porter le niqab et passer des examens en Égypte, il faut désormais choisir. Le 3 janvier, un tribunal égyptien a décidé que les Égyptiennes revêtant le voile intégral, celui ne laissant entrevoir que les yeux, ne seraient plus autorisées à passer leurs épreuves.