عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egyptian Women Play Remarkable Role in Elections

Egyptian women in Cairo on Saturday waiting to vote in the referendum on constitutional amendments. (EPA)
Egyptian women in Cairo on Saturday waiting to vote in the referendum on constitutional amendments. (EPA)
TT
TT

Egyptian Women Play Remarkable Role in Elections

Egyptian women in Cairo on Saturday waiting to vote in the referendum on constitutional amendments. (EPA)
Egyptian women in Cairo on Saturday waiting to vote in the referendum on constitutional amendments. (EPA)

Women voting in the referendum on constitutional amendments in Egypt stressed their willingness to be part of the development in their country.

“I voted for the continuation of the construction, development and anti-terror process in Egypt,” said Nabila Hassan, a woman in her 60s, in front of a polling station in Ghamra, central Cairo.

“Although I'm feeling ill, I decided to go to the polling station early Saturday,” she added.

This remarkable scene was repeated in polling stations throughout the country.

Egyptian women led the event by arriving from early hours to vote. Observers linked the “heavy female turnout in all poll stations to the gains achieved by women and their growing awareness of the importance of participation.”

First Lady Entissar el Sisi cast her ballot in El-Shaheed Yousry Emara School in Heliopolis while Jehan Sadat, widow of former president Anwar Sadat, voted in the Ministry of Agriculture’s commission in Dokki district in Giza governorate.

Dr. Noha Bakr, a political studies professor in the American University in Cairo, told Asharq Al-Awsat that women’s heavy turnout in elections is mainly due to their nature, awareness of their social and family responsibilities and their interest in the future of their children and families.

“The remarkable participation of women on January 25, 2011, and June 30, 2013 revolutions highlight women’s awareness of the importance of positive participation,” she explained.

“The political gains achieved by women in recent years have also created a strong incentive.”

The Egyptian woman has made many political achievements since the January 25th revolution. Women MPs in the House of Representatives have amounted to about 90, and there are eight female ministers in the current government.

The amendments proposed to create a quota setting women’s representation in parliament at a minimum of 25 percent.

According to the amended Article (102, Paragraph 1), women will be given one-fourth of the number of Parliament seats.

“The House of Representatives shall consist of at least 450 members, elected through direct and secret ballots. At least quarter the number of the parliamentary seats shall be given to women,” read the article, which was approved by Egypt’s House of Representatives during a public discussion and voting session.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
TT
TT

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.