Divorce and the fate of the family in modern century Egypt

In January 2000, amid much controversy, the Egyptian Parliament approved Law No. 1, a revision of the personal status law, which governs family life. The most controversial provision of the new law was in section 20 (now in force) which enables women to acquire a divorce without the agreement of their husbands, under the rubric of khul. The reform was approved even though many Egyptians believed that divorce was already pervasive and feared it would only increase.