Egypt to Allow Law Legalizing Sex with Dead Wives?

05/02/12

It seems preposterous, but the internet and media is abuzz with rumors that two laws targeting women may be tabled in the Egyptian parliament, though there is still no concrete information about any member of the parliament tabling such bills. However, the issues are there. In May 2011, a Moroccan cleric publicly opined that the sexual relation between husband and wife continued beyond death. The cleric, Zamzami Abdul Bari held marriage remains valid even after death adding that a woman also had the same right to engage in sex with her dead husband. Hmm.


However, matters were deemed serious enough over information that regardless of the law permitting necrophilia, Egypt's parliament may be considering lowering the marriageable age of women to 14.

Dr. Mervat al-Talawi, head of the National Council of Women in Egypt sent a message to the Egyptian People's Assembly Speaker, Dr. Saad al-Katani on the matter. She appealed that those two laws, specifically reducing the marriageable age of women to fourteen and the other allowing sex with a dead wife up to 6 hours after death be not allowed.

Egyptian columnist Amro Abdul Samea, wrote in the al-Ahram news that “Talawi tried to underline in her message that marginalizing and undermining the status of women in future development plans would undoubtedly negatively affect the country's human development, simply because wome represent half the population.”

On Tuesday, prominent TV anchor Jaber al-Qarmouty mentioned the subject on Egyptian ON TV and criticized the notion as a “Farewell Intercourse” draft law.

Jaber al-Qarmouty commented on his show “This is very serious. Could the panel that will draft the Egyptian constitution possibly discuss such issues? Did Abdul Samea see by his own eyes the text of the message sent by Talawi to Katatni? This is unbelievable. It is a catastrophe to give the husband such a right! Has the Islamic trend reached that far? Is there really a draft law in this regard? Are there people thinking in this manner?”

There hasn't yet been any reaction from the government though many believe the entire incident is based upon assumptions and presumptions calculated to paint Muslims in a stereotypically retarded image.

The ‘facts' have been reported worldwide and found mention in publications ranging from the Daily Mail to the Huffington Post. However, people have pointed out that the TV anchor who highlighted the issue is one who used to favor the ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his son, and expected to be against the current regime.