Sisi wants to ban verbal divorce statements

Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has urged men in Egypt to deal with women well, it has been reported. The Egyptian president’s plea was made in response to personal stories he heard from the wives and mothers of a number of police officers who have lost their lives in the wave of militant attacks that has plagued the country since 2013.

During a televised speech he gave in a ceremony held on Tuesday to commemorate National Police Day, Sisi expressed resentment at the high rate of divorce that Egyptian society is witnessing.

“The divorce rate has reached 40 per cent [of marriages],” explained the president, “so there is a necessity to [introduce] a law banning divorce except in front of a marriage official so as to give the couple the chance to review their stance. Divorce cannot take place through a word.” He revealed his intention to ban verbal divorce statements by which some men separate formally from their wives.

Sisi sought reassurance from the Grand Shaikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, that this is the right position to take.