Buzz

Egypt MP Says Women Must Accept FGM Due to Country’s ‘Sexually Weak’ Men

Egypt MP Says Women Must Accept FGM Due to Country’s ‘Sexually Weak’ Men

egypt parliament

Egyptian member of parliament Elhamy Agina has encouraged women to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) to “reduce their sexual desires” to match that of Egypt’s “sexually weak” men, Parlmany reported.

“We are a population whose men suffer from sexual weakness, which is evident because Egypt is among the biggest consumers of sexual stimulants that only the weak will consume,” Agina said. “If we stop FGM, we will need strong men and we don’t have men of that sort.”

The parliamentarian, who hails from Daqahliya, said that it is therefore better for women to undergo FGM because it “reduces a woman’s sexual appetite” and women should “stand by their men” in order for life to proceed smoothly.

FGM continues to be a widespread practice in Egypt, despite being banned in 2008. Article 242 of Egypt’s Penal Code criminalizes the circumcision of girls and the punishment for performing FGM is a prison sentence ranging from three months to two years or a fine of EGP 5,000.

Egypt’s cabinet recently approved a draft law that will harshen the punishment by increasing jail time for practicing FGM to a minimum of five years and a maximum of seven years. The law must be ratified by the country’s parliament before being introduced into the legal code.

According to the 2015 Egypt Health Issues Survey (EHIS), around 9 in 10 women aged 15-49 have undergone the procedure. This number is only four percent lower than statistics from a 2008 survey.

The study found a greater prevalence of the practice among those with lower levels of education and those living in rural areas, compared to respondents living in urban areas and with higher levels of education and wealth.

According to the World Health Organization, Egypt, Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti and Sierra Leone have the highest rates of FGM. A 2013 UNICEF report found that Egypt has the world’s highest total number of FGM sufferers, with 27.2 million women having undergone FGM.

85-Year-Old Coptic Christian Teaches Children the Qur'an
500 Runners Hit Zamalek's Streets to Support Egypt's Breast Cancer Foundation

Subscribe to our newsletter


Buzz

More in Buzz

L’Etape Egypt Celebrates Bright New World of Egyptian Cycling

Lara Gibson2 October 2023

Can Carbon Markets Like Egypt’s Help the Environment?

Omar Auf30 September 2023

Ride Like an Egyptian: 4 Cycling Groups to Join in Cairo

Farah Rafik27 September 2023

5 Local Instagram Accounts that Sell Pre-Loved and Thrifted Iems

Farah Rafik26 September 2023

Behind the Success: Decoding Mobinil’s Community-Focused Marketing

Farah Aly23 September 2023

Explainer: Will The New India-Europe Corridor Affect Egypt’s Suez Canal?

Egyptian Streets22 September 2023

A Beginner’s Guide to Skateboarding in Egypt

Omar Auf21 September 2023

Traveling to Egypt? Here’s How to Issue Your Visa

Marina Makary21 September 2023