Radwa Helmi on Saturday became the first woman to sit on the bench of Egypt’s State Council, a top court in the country.

Since the court’s institution in 1946, there has not been a single female judge on its bench. The council has long opposed the nomination of women. This persisted until October 3, 2021, when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appointed 98 female judges. Justice Helmi was the first to take a seat on the dais.

Although there is no rule prohibiting women from serving as judges in Egypt, the judiciary has long been male-dominated in the Muslim-majority country. Women have been sidelined in Egypt since the country’s establishment as a modern state in the 19th century. In 1956, women were granted the ability to vote and run for public office. However, their personal liberties have remained restricted. Tahany el-Gebaly was appointed to the Egyptian Constitutional Tribunal in 2003, making her the country’s first female judge.

Despite this, according to Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, there is no Islamic decree which prohibits women from holding high-ranking positions, travelling alone, or having an equal share of inheritance rights.

Justice Helmi expressed pride in her “great responsibility” and complimented Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his historic decision. She described the decision as “an essential part of supporting every Egyptian woman” during a press conference.