Egypt to ban parents from giving babies foreign names like Sam, Mark and Linda
Foreign names might become a thing of the past in Egypt, now that a ban on giving kids foreign names has been proposed. Parents might face hefty fines or time in jail if the ban is accepted, according to the Independent.
An Egyptian parliamentary committee will meet to debate the ban this Tuesday. If the law passes, parents might face fines as high as $270 or a jail sentence of up to six months. Egyptian MP Bedier Abdel Aziz will propose the law to the Parliament’s complaints and suggestions committee, claiming that names like Lara, Mark and Sam are difficult to pronounce for Arabic speakers.
“Using such Western names and abandoning Arabic ones will lead to an undesired and radical change in our society and culture,” Aziz told the Egypt Independent. “Our sons will no longer be connected to their true identity,” he added.
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People were not pleased. One Facebook user noted: “I really can’t believe that the parliament has nothing better to do. Add this to the growing list of weird things they want to discuss!” Another one said: “This is the stupidest waste of time I have ever heard of.”
If the new law is passed, Egypt will join a few other countries that passed similar laws. In Saudi Arabia, a list of 50 names like Alice and Linda were banned in 2014 because they “condtradicted” religion and local culture.
Denmark rejects names like Pluto and Monkey, while New Zealand banned parents from naming their kids Stallion, Fish and Chips or Satan.
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