Landmark ruling puts normal life in reach for child of Egyptian rape survivor

By Mai Shams El-Din and Menna AlaaElDin

CAIRO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - As Egypt’s new academic year approaches, Amal Abdel Hameed is hopeful her daughter will be able to enroll officially in school for the first time since she was born as a result of a rape nearly eight years ago.

Under Egyptian law, Abdel Hameed’s daughter had been barred from obtaining a birth certificate — and thus lacked official access to essentially all public services — because she was born outside wedlock.

She had attended school but could not take exams.