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Sisterhood is Global Institute

ACTION ALERT!

NAWAL El SAADAWI -distinguished Egyptian Feminist and Writer- needs your support

Over the past few weeks the news has reached us that SIGI member and distinguished Egyptian feminist activist, Nawal El Saadawi, has been suffering increasing persecution from Egyptian authorities. First they went after her books; then they went after her beliefs; and now they are trying to dissolve her marriage. The state is attempting to annul the 37 year marriage of Nawal El Saadawi and Sherif Hetata on the basis of an accusation that she has breached the codes of Islam and is an apostate. The case is scheduled for 18 June, 2001, at the Cairo Court for Personal Status Affairs.

The Sisterhood Is Global Institute encourages you to write letters of protest against the persecution of Nawal El Saadawi to governmental officials involved the case.

Nawal El Saadawi is well known throughout the world for her wonderful novels, stories and essays, translated into many languages. Some will remember her book, Woman At Point Zero; others will recall her recent autobiography, A Daughter of Isis. She has given speeches in many countries.

El Saadawi is an ardent defender of women's rights in both her writing and activities. To many she is an example of extreme courage under very difficult and oppressive circumstances. Over the years, she has been imprisoned, and her books have been banned and censored. In 1980, she lost her job as Director of Health Education in the Egyptian Ministry of Health. In 1990 the Arab Women's Solidarity Association founded by her was closed down by a decree of the Egyptian government. The two magazines she founded, Health and Noon, were also banned after only a few issues.

Over the past few years, as in other countries, fundamentalist movements in Egypt have gained in strength and influence. Currently there are 1300 religious associations in Egypt, of whom six are very powerful and have millions of followers. The Muslim Brothers, a very powerful Fundamentalist Islamic movement, has 17 members in the Popular Assembly. Their support is important to other political parties holding or seeking power.

There has been an increasing incidence of fundamentalist activity regarding cultural matters. Among the various books banned at the Cairo International Book Fair of February, 2001, were two of El Saadawi's novels and her autobiography; the author protested the banning at a public meeting held during the fair.

The current campaign launched against El Saadawi began with an interview in which she expressed her views on the rights of women and her opposition to women wearing the veil, to polygamy, and to inequality in rights to inheritance of men and women. She accused some religious dignitaries of being obsessed with sexual matters rather than the essence of religion, which she claims not to be sexuality but the spirit of justice, love, equality and the opposition to injustice. She suggested that the religion, as it is practiced in Egypt, has inherited some customs and rituals from periods of Egyptian history preceding Islam.

The reporter of this interview then shared its contents with the Mufti who, along with the Sheikh of Al Ahzar University, is considered the most important religious authority in Egypt. They issued a declaration accusing El Saadawi of having moved out of the bounds of Islam in this interview. Some fundamentalist newspapers and Orthodox sheikhs have now joined the fray, accusing her of sexual licentiousness in inciting women to immoral behaviour.

The most recent persecution of Nawal El Saadawi involves her marriage. A fundamentalist lawyer acted on the above declaration by requesting permission from the General Prosecutor to raise a case against her and to have her separated from her husband of 37 years and father of their two children, on the grounds that she can no longer be considered a Muslim. This practice, known as Hizba, allows for annulment of marriage on the basis of breaching the codes of Islam and apostasy. The case is to be heard on June 18, 2001, at the Cairo Court for Personal Status Affairs.

While there is ample reason to lodge complaints regarding the entire campaign of harassment and false accusation against El Saadawi, she and her husband, Dr. Sherif Hetata, are currently concentrating on the assault on their marriage. They welcome in their struggle the support of the international Human and Women's Rights community.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF NAWAL EL SAADAWI, SHERIF HETATA AND THEIR FAMILY

Write your protest to:

Farouk Seif Al Nasr, Minister of Justice, Lazoughly Square, Cairo, Egypt

The General Prosecutor, The High Court, July 26 Street, Cairo Egypt Fax: (011) (202) 5757165

Hosni Mobarak, The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Presidential Palace, Cairo Egypt

First Lady Suzanne Mobarak, Presidential Palace, Cairo, Egypt.

You may also want to write to the Ambassador of Egypt to your country.