Feminists dismayed that Egypt’s revolution is failing to advance their cause are trying to rally disparate women’s groups to defend women’s rights from perceived threats from Islamists and other conservatives.
“The revolution [has been] stolen by the military, the government, professionally organized groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and traditional political parties headed by opportunists,” veteran feminist Nawal al-Saadawi told Reuters in an interview.
Campaigners say Egyptian women face some of the harshest treatment in the world: domestic violence, harassment and discrimination in the law.
Female genital mutilation practiced on children is rife. Its advocates assert, wrongly, that it is called for in Islam’s holy texts. Forced marriage of young girls is still common outside big cities. [Daily Star] Read more [via National Secular Society]
