Now, sermons for the deaf

Yomna Kamel Middle East Times staff

In response to an increasing number of deaf people in Egypt, sign language interpreters have recently been appointed at three mosques to help them perform the Friday prayers.

The mosques of Sayyida Zeinab in Central Cairo, Salah Al Din in Manyal and Qaher Al Tatar in Heliopolis were chosen by the Ministry of Islamic Endowments to hold this service starting from June 30th. There is a plan to gradually expand it across the country, Minister of Islamic Endowments Hamdy Zaqzouq told the Egyptian press.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serving deaf people are welcoming the step, as it aims not only to make life easier for deaf persons, but also allows them to integrate into society.

Currently, there are two million deaf persons in Egypt, a matter which should motivate both the government and the NGOs to cooperate in providing more services, said Mounir Shoman, director of the Egyptian Society for the Deaf.

Shoman, whose center annually receives up to 4,000 deaf people of different ages for education, vocational training or just help to find a job or a spouse, thinks that pollution and early childhood diseases are the main causes of deafness. Drugs taken by pregnant women and repeated inter-marriages are other factors that increase the incidence of deafness in Egypt.

Muhammad Said Shaaban, a 19-year-old deaf student who attends a boarding school for the deaf in Shebeen Al Koum, Menoufiya, said, through an interpreter, that the availability of sign language interpreters offering public services will make life much easier for deaf citizens.

"Having interpreters in mosques is a good step that will help deaf Muslims to understand the religion. It is not as difficult as people might think, to people," said Shoman, adding that his society, together with other organizations, has requested that the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs provide them with religious advisors trained to use sign language.

A lack of educational opportunities, however, is still a major problem. According to Shoman, while there are 26 societies, one in each

governorate, providing various services for deaf people, as well as 160 centers offering training programs, there is still a lack of general educational facilities.

While in Cairo alone there are seven schools, other governorates have none, so students have to travel long distances, which adds to their difficulties, he said.

"Unfortunately, there is a shortage of teachers who know the sign language," said Shoman, adding, "and this is one of the things preventing the Ministry of Education from building more schools for the deaf."

A lack of public awareness often worsens the situation. "Sometimes people who don't understand the deaf make fun of them. The public need to learn a bit about the sign language especially as such a large segment of society suffers from this disability," Shoman explained.

A few years ago, the Egyptian Radio and Television Service (now Channel III) took the initiative by appointing sign language specialists to interpret certain programs and news. Although Shaaban appreciates that some television programs are translated into sign language, he wishes to see all programs translated.

Shoman relates that his society is now preparing a program to be presented through NileSat channels to teach sign language.

"We hope such television programs will help to narrow the gap between deaf and normal people. When two deaf people are seen talking to each other using sign language, people

sometimes make fun of them, but we think when they understand the language, they will accept them," said Shoman.

Understanding the language of the deaf is beneficial not only for the deaf themselves, but also for others wishing to communicate with them. A few months ago, Egyptian society was shocked by the crime of rape and murder

committed by a group of deaf people against a deaf girl. A heated debate in the Egyptian media ensued among sociologists and psychologists who accused all societal bodies of neglecting the deaf . Since then, awareness of the problems and frustrations of the deaf and the need to communicate with them has started to widen.