Competing Fundamentalisms and Egyptian Women's Family Rights ─ International Law and the Reform of Shari'a-Derived Legislation

Moussa begins her preface with acknowledgement of the major changes in Egypt occurring as this book neared completion: "...a popular revolution toppled Egypt's long-time dictator of Hosni Mubarak, on January 25th, 2011, ending his three decades of repressive rule." Now a Ph.D. candidate (law, U. of Cambridge), she was desk officer in charge of Legal Affairs and Human Rights Affairs in the cabinet of Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010, so her view is from the front row. Here she offers a theoretical framework for studying the human rights of women in a specific cultural context and in the wider debate, and she discusses the sources of international women's rights law and international enforcement mechanisms. At such a critical time in the country's history, Moussa's study is all the more important. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jasmine Moussa is a Ph.D candidate at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law. From 2008 to 2010 she was the desk officer in charge of Legal Affairs and Human Rights Affairs in the Cabinet of Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.