Farkhonda Hassan, the head of the National Council for Women (NWC), is to be replaced by Mervat al-Talawy, the former minister of social affairs, informed sources have told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Hassan has been accused by anti-Mubarak feminists of being close to Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of former President Hosni Mubarak.
The sources added that all members of the council would be replaced.
Last month, a lawsuit was filed with Cairo Adminstrative Court demanding the dissolution of the NCW. The plaintiffs say that the body was formed by members of the disbanded National Democratic Party and that it is a tool used by the party to achieve nefarious objectives.
The council in general was accused of promoting the president’s wife and falsely portraying her as an advocate of women’s rights.
Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri previously said that he had issued a decree on the reformation of the council, but the decree is reportedly awaiting the approval of Egypt’s military rulers.
The sources revealed that among the new members of the council are several young, revolutionary female activists, including Asmaa Ali and women rights activist Nehad Aboul Komsan, head of the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
