Addressing Familicide in Egypt: A Narrative Literature Review

Familicide represents one of the most extreme forms of violence within the family context and is a crime frequently overlooked in both Egypt and the Arab world. This study aimed to identify the causes and risk factors contributing to the familicide problem in Egypt. To better understand the circumstances surrounding these tragedies, a narrative literature review was performed using research articles from Scopus, newspaper reports, and other writings on familicide cases in Egypt from 1995 to 2025. The specific causes of familicide in Egypt include poverty, economic challenges, mental health problems, cultural and social variables, domestic violence against a spouse, and legislative issues. Owing to unmanageable economic constraints, family disputes may escalate to a point of no return. Family honor, which demands the preservation of familial reputation, can become a reflexive or automatic response. The absence of adequate legal protection for victims of domestic violence further contributes to the overall familicide problem. Cultural norms, mental health issues, domestic violence, poverty, and economic hardships, as well as insufficient legislation, are the main contributors to familial homicide in Egypt. Addressing familial homicides will require significant legal reforms, cultural transformation, improvements in mental health services, and economic development.Keywords: Familicide; Cultural norms; Egypt; Violence; Mental health; Economic stress