Egypt's child law meets opposition

Cairo: Since June, Egypt's government and opposition parties have been trading barbs over a new law designed to protect the rights of children. Reforms instituted by the law touch on issues ranging from children's legal status to personal health issues. The law was passed by parliament, which is dominated by President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party. But the measure has spurred a debate over the competing roles of religion, tradition, and the state in the upbringing of children. The controversy is making waves in a country where 32 per cent of the population is under the age of 15, according to a 2006 government census. The Muslim Brotherhood, a banned yet tolerated opposition group that holds 20 per cent of the seats in the lower house, argues that the law violates Sharia and imposes foreign values on Egyptians. Sa'ad Al... [read full story]