Regulation of Adultery (Zina) in the Context of Egyptian Human Rights Obligations

Abstract

According to the Egyptian legal framework, a man is considered to have committed infidelity if he had sexual intercourse with another woman other than his wedded wife and such intercourse must take place within the marital home that he shares with his wife. If a man has sexual intercourse with an unmarried maiden in a hotel, that would not be regarded as an act of adultery. On the contrary, a woman does not enjoy the same privilege as her male counterparts. If a married woman sleeps with another man other than her wedded husband, she will be regarded as the one who committed adultery whether she did it in her marital home or outside it. What is good for the goose must also be good for the gander. An egalitarian society for all is not only a fundamental human right but an essential foundation for a prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable society. This paper intends to contribute to mounting pressure on the Egyptian government to revisit its discriminatory laws and to comply with its international human rights obligations.

Keywords

• adultery
• gender discrimination
• zina
• family law