Asmaa Fathy

Cairo — As Egypt approaches its current electoral cycle, the need to return to the field and listen to those carrying the burden of the battle for real representation and citizens’ daily concerns becomes increasingly urgent.

As voting begins, the hopes of Helwan residents remain pinned on whoever can truly carry their voice, defend their interests, and work within a Parliament that needs greater transparency, closer engagement with reality, and the ability to make decisions that genuinely impact people’s lives.

Helwan is considered one of the most complex and diverse districts, and Dr. Dina Abdelaziz enters the race with prior parliamentary experience and a vision that promises a reordering of priorities, grounded in years of fieldwork and engagement with service-related issues, citizens’ needs, and the chronic challenges facing South Cairo.

Her candidacy is based on her conviction that representing the district is not limited to presence under the parliamentary dome; it extends to following up on unresolved issues, reopening files related to social justice, improving basic infrastructure, and empowering youth and women within the local community. Through this vision, she seeks to transform accumulated experience into a clear path for change.

In this interview with Dina Abdelaziz, candidate for the 2025 House of Representatives for the Helwan–Maasara district, we explore her motivations for running again, the major features of her electoral program, her view on women’s political participation in Egypt, what she hopes to deliver to the people of Helwan in the coming parliamentary term, and her assessment of the flaws in the “list system,” the impact of the new districting map on the electoral process, and how the political leadership intervened to regulate the electoral landscape. She also highlights her bold legislative agenda addressing issues such as evading alimony payments after divorce, workers’ wages, girls’ right to education, and more.

 

Running as an independent candidate for the second time is a major challenge. Why insist on this path despite the presence of electoral lists?

I am committed to running as an independent candidate because I believe it represents “true empowerment” for Egyptian women. In my view, the list system merely “places women” rather than empowers them. A woman who wins an independent seat earns society’s trust through her competence — and that is the real measure of political strength.

This time, the challenge is harder because the new districting system allocated 50% of seats to lists, reducing independent seats and making competition extremely fierce, especially among men who felt their opportunities shrink.

I succeeded in the previous term through door-to-door campaigns, which became a model that encouraged many women to enter the race this year without fear or hesitation.

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Women in public life often face smear campaigns and rumors. How do you handle this?

Rumors are the price of success. They often arise from anxious male competitors and reflect weakness on their part. Despite how harsh rumors can be, they do not affect me personally — I turn them into motivation. My only concern is their effect on some simple voters who may believe sensational lies.

My philosophy is not to focus on the half-empty glass and instead rely on people’s awareness and sense of judgment. I say to every woman: if you will be shaken by every rumor or comment, then public life is not for you. You must have strong resilience to continue.

 

As a representative of a primarily industrial district, what is your vision for struggling factories and workers’ wages?

Industry is the backbone of Helwan. I completely reject shutting down or selling loss-making factories. My proposed alternative is public–private partnership in management and operation to modernize machinery and systems while keeping state ownership and protecting workers’ rights.

As for wages, many workers do not even receive the minimum wage, and their income is nowhere near enough for a dignified life amid current inflation. Wages must be linked to productivity, and workers must feel both financial and moral appreciation — the worker is the foundation of any successful institution.

 

If you win the elections, what family- and women-related legislation do you plan to introduce?

I have a clear and defined legislative agenda. The most important part concerns penalties for evading alimony. I will propose an amendment that classifies avoiding child support as a “dishonorable offense.” It is unacceptable for a father to abandon his children and force the mother into dependency.

I am also working on advancing the “contribution and partnership rights” principle (ḥaqq al-kadd wa al-sa‘aya), and I will sponsor a proposal that grants divorced women — after long marriages — a share of the husband’s wealth (I propose half of her legal inheritance share) as compensation for years of partnership and to guarantee her a dignified life free from need.

I have many other ideas and plans that I will pursue after winning the current elections to deliver real, sustainable services to my district.

 

You played a noticeable service-oriented role last term. What is your service plan for the coming period?

In areas such as Tebbin, Maasara, and Arab Al-Walda, I documented cases of brilliant high-school girls whose families prevented them from entering university, insisting they settle for a technical diploma. This is a burial of exceptional talent. In the next term, I will work on legislation making university education mandatory for top-performing students, with no authority for guardians to block it. These minds are national treasures that must not be wasted.

During the previous term, we worked on numerous files: developing the Helwan Sulfur Baths, paving streets with interlock tiles, and initiating oversight over healthcare (Helwan General Hospital), endowments, and environmental sectors — achieving significant progress, which we will continue.

In the upcoming period, we will continue building hospitals, resolving school overcrowding, and I have a simple yet deeply humane request for the elderly: converting the pedestrian bridge staircases in the district into electric escalators to spare them the hardship of climbing. This is among many service initiatives I intend to pursue.