NGO Support

Tunisian Association for Democratic Women (ATFD)
Solidarity Center

Tunisia 7/5/2001

Appeal to the Prosecutor General

The Aisha Solidarity Center received with great concern the news about the case raised by some to annul the marriage of Nawal Elsaadwi and Sherif Hetata accusing her of breaching the codes of Islam and apostasy. The court case has been scheduled for the 18th of June 2001 at the Cairo Court for Personal Status Affairs.

The Arab Feminist Member Organizations of Aisha - the Arab Women Forum have been following with great concern this repeated use of law suits to violate the lives and rights of Egyptian intellectuals and to pass judgements against their freedom of thought and expression. This is happening at a time where we are in great need of all enlightened ideas and innovations to meet the cultural, economic and political challenges that face our countries at the beginning of the new millenium.

We call on you to put an end to the use of "Hesba" and to respect the rights of the individuals granted by the Egyptian constitution and all international treaties and conventions to which Egypt is a signatory.
In view of the above we call on you to urgently interfere to cancel the case raised against Dr. Nawal El Saadawi.

Cordially
Solidarity Center
Aisha - Arab Women Forum