Egyptian Women Will Now Have to Perform One Year of Public Service After Graduating from University

The Ministry of Social Solidarity denied on Saturday the recent rumours that circulated on social media regarding the expansion of compulsory military service to include women, reports Daily News Egypt.

According to the ministry's spokeswoman Olfat Salami, the rumours were related to a decision made by the ministry last week to activate the Law of Public Service No. 76/1973, starting February 1st. After the decree was published in the official gazette, rumours spread that, under said law, women would be subject to conscription.

The law, as explained by Salami, entails that female university and higher institute graduates, in addition to men who aren't enlisted in the armed forces, would have to take up one year of public service. The fields of Public Service include illiteracy eradication, administrative work at governmental agencies, and participating in family planning campaigns.