In a communiqué, Al-Azhar clerics protested vehemently against several sections of the new Child Law that is to be brought for ratification by the Egyptian People's council, saying that these sections are against shari'a and that they pose social and moral dangers.
They say that the proposed raising of legal marriage age to 18 will lead to secret marriages and to illegal marriage contracts; that the proposed registering of children in their mothers' name is counter to explicit Koran dictates – i.e. that this is solely the father's right; and that the proposed ban on corporal punishment in education will harm fathers' legitimate right to educate their children;.
On the proposed ban on female circumcision, the clerics said that it is not forbidden and that medical research has shown its benefits.
(See also "Egyptian People's Council Nixes Sections Of New Children's Law".)
Source: Al-Masryoon, Egypt, May 24, 2008
