NCJ Number
81096
Date Published
Unknown
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses feud traditions in upper Egypt which oblige a man to revenge his father's or brother's murder by killing the murderer and suggests new ways to handle these crimes.
Abstract
Among Egypt's 24 provinces, only 4 -- Menia, Assiout, Kena, and Souhag -- suffer from feud. In their cultures, a life sentence does not redress the loss of a father or brother and sooner or later, the murderer, his brother, or next of kin has to be killed in retaliation. When this happens, a new cycle begins to avenge the murderer's death. The feud was not known to Egyptians until after the Arab conquest, but feuds were used to redress wrongs in Anglo-Saxon England and among the Germanic tribes. The villages in upper Egypt are isolated from the outside world and depend on agriculture. The population is generally poor and illiterate, and society is governed by a rigid clan structure in which aggression against any member is considered an attack on the whole group. If the offender and victim are members of the same clan, however, the affair is usually settled within the group. Several customs reinforce the feud obligation and pressure a man to obey it instead of the law. No funeral ceremonies are held until the victim is revenged, and nobody is allowed to cooperate with the police. Women and children are excluded from the feud, but women often keep reminding sons of their responsibility to avenge a father's or brother's murder as soon as they grow up. Individuals who do not accept the feud obligation are rejected by the clan and the community. Feuds disrupt the agricultural economy because of conflicts over land ownership and irrigation systems and divert scarce income into weapon purchases. Police have used raids, search warrants, and special patrols to prevent feuds, but have achieved little success. Because of cultural differences, hot weather, and heavy workloads, police officers do not like to serve in upper Egypt and are reluctant to become involved in the communities. Recommendations for future policy focus on changing the agricultural economy, providing more recreational and educational opportunities, and appointing police officers from neighboring provinces who understand the problems. Trial by jury is suggested as an alternative to the feud tradition. A map and four references are included.