The political turmoil witnessed in Egypt since January 25, 2011, has also taken its toll on families. Marital disputes based on political affiliations, which were not an issue before the two revolutions, have ended in divorce, regardless children and long years invested in the marriages.
Anger over Mubarak’s removal
The political turmoil witnessed in Egypt since January 25, 2011, has also taken its toll on families. Marital disputes based on political affiliations, which were not an issue before the two revolutions, have ended in divorce, regardless children and long years invested in the marriages.
Anger over Mubarak’s removal
“I got married when I was 19 and I have two kids with my husband Bader who works as an employee at a company,” said 33 year-old Suhair Ali from al-Brelles city in Kafr el-Sheikh. “We did not have many quarrels in our life and our main focus was on our little family. However, since the January 25 revolution, our family has been in deep distress.”
Ali’s husband was a member of the dissolved National Party and an avid supporter of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, whereas her family is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, although this never previously caused conflict between the two families.
“After Mubarak was ousted,” Ali said, “Familial disputes started. My husband began mercilessly beating me and eventually kicked me out of the house. Our two families have interfered, but their different political affiliations have aggravated the issue.
“My younger brother and my husband’s brother quarreled when my brother described Mubarak as an oppressor. A huge fight has erupted where firearms and knives were used and many were injured. Finally, my husband divorced me.”
A child amongst political disputes
Sameh Shukri, a 39-year-old employee in the public sector, who lives in one of the Metoubs villages, said: “Before having our child, Minna, our life was full of love and respect and we used to care for each other. However, since the Revolution of June 30, sadness has replaced the happiness in our life.”
Shukri explained that his older brother is affiliated to some of the revolutionary movements in the Matoubs district and is a political opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood and participated in a number of demonstrations and protests demanding the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Since Morsi was removed, everything has changed between me and my wife, as she perceived me as a reflection of my older brother. She described us as anti-legitimacy and as liberals, whose main goal is to destroy religion. I could not believe what had become of the woman I married. She started to demonstrate in support of the Muslim Brotherhood and direct her anger towards me although I have no affiliation to any political party or movement.”
After the revolution of June 30, Shukri’s daughter grew ill and the next morning his wife went to participate in a demonstration in Kafr al-Sheikh City in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. With tension rising in their household, Shukra’s wife went to stay with her father. “My daughter did not get any better. She became sicker while her mother was at her parents’ house, then she died. I found no other solution but divorce and I pray to God to help me with patience to put off the fire in my heart and dry my tears,” Shukri said.
Politics and marriage don’t mix
Divorce cases because of politics are numerous and not limited to differences between two political camps, but sometimes even between allied ones. Hana K, a 29-year-old teacher in Kafr al-Sheikh who has a child with her husband Bassem, is affiliated with the Nassirist Popular current, while her husband is aligned with al-Dostour Party founded by Mohammad Baradei.
“We demonstrated against the Muslim Brotherhood and upon their removal and the dispersing of the sit-ins of Rabaa and al-Nahda along with the statements of Baradei – former vice president of foreign affairs – about the manner used to break up the sit-ins and his departure out of the country. Eventually, disputes between me and my husband began. He beat me and kicked me out of the house and insulted me about our differences in viewing Baradei’s statements. Our differences escalated, the gap between us widened and we eventually divorced,” she said.
Understandable anger
Fasel Abdul Aziz, sociology and psychology prosfessor in Kafr el-Sheikh University said: “Divorce due to political differences is a temporary psychological state that appeared in Egyptian society through two revolutions. People have experienced psychological anger about politics after only previously being concerned about their living.”
Future marriage
Yet the “revolution divorce” phenomenon has not affected the youth’s desire to marry although it has raised their awareness about the importance of political harmony. Twenty-six-year-old Muhammad Abdo, affiliated with the Nasserist Karama Party, believes that it is important for him to learn about the political background of his future wife. “There is no problem in marrying a woman without any political affiliation if there is acceptance among the couple, but I would carefully consider her affiliation before getting married— especially is there is affiliation to the dissolved National Party. Or what kind of opinions does she have if she is from a family affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood? I must carefully consider the matter because in both cases, opinions would be different,” he said.
Twenty-four-year-old Naeem Masri, who is affiliated with the revolutionary movements in Kafr el-Sheikh, believes that his wife’s political affiliation is very important, but her morals are far more important. “I was politically aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, but then I turned to the revolutionary movements in 2010. Nevertheless, my ideas about marriage are still the same. I may choose a woman regardless of her affiliation and we would agree on the concepts of democracy, reform and social justice. These are conditions that go in line with my beliefs, but if that was faced with refusal, then this would be her problem. Matters of our life must be sorted out before marriage,” he said.
