Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Lawyer Peter al-Najjār asked the General Prosecutor, in a lawsuit against Dr. Fathī Surūr, president of the People's Assembly, to amend law no. 276 of the criminal law because it contradicts the 40^th article of the constitution. The lawsuit was based on the decision issued by 15^th of May Court concerning the lawsuit by Wisām William ‘Azīz against his wife, Irīnī Farūq Nasīf and Tāmir Khayrī ‘Iz al-Dīn, and accused them of adultery. The defense mentioned that in order for the accused couple to be condemned, the action of adultery should actually take place and be witnessed by others. However, the court considered this couple innocent, since the act of adultery took place in a Christian house. Al-Najjār said that this decision contradicts the constitution, which mentions that prohibited adultery is the presence of a stranger in a Muslim house, and considered this as discrimination against followers of different religions.

 

When the husband, Wisām ‘Azīz, was asked by the prosecution about the reason for coming to court, he presented a marriage document, as well as proof of the relationship between his wife and Tāmir ‘Iz al-Dīn. However, Irinī denied the accusation. ‘Azīz stated that on his way home to reconcile with his wife because of marital problems (Irinī was staying in her parents’ house) he found his wife carrying their child with another person sitting in the living room. ‘Azīz asserted, during the investigations, that they were having an affair, since his wife opened the door in her night gown.

 

When asked about the incident, Irīnī denied it, saying that she was sleeping when her husband knocked on the door. “When I opened the door,” she said, “It was Wisām, my husband. He pushed the door and let Tāmir, who was coming to my father, in. Then, the police came and we all went to the police station.” She added that Wisām wants to destroy her reputation in order to divorce her.

 

Tāmir ‘Iz al-Dīn said that he knows Fārūq Nasīf and that they had a business relationship. “I went to his house yesterday in order to take money from him,” he said in the investigations, “I found four people on the stairs who forced me into Nasīf’s apartment and kept hitting me until the police came.”