Although I'm not Egyptian,I think it actually protects young, uneducated women from being exploited beyond the institution of marriage. The article mentions trafficking of young women,how prevalent is it?
Also too, there is an implicit understanding of class and socio-economic differences between Arabs of the Gulf Coast and Arabs living in Egypt et al.
How many upper class Egyptians would allow their 17 year dtr to marry a 92 year old man?
If the answer is not many...then it suggests that poorer women are often victimized(in many forms) and so this law is a form of protection of a very important resource.....women!
Yasmine
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