Nawal Elsaadawi was an Egyptian feminist writer, activist and physician. She wrote numerous books on the subject of women in Islam, focusing on the practice of female genital mutilation in her society. She was described as “the Simone de Beauvoir of the Arab World”, and as “Egypt’s most radical woman”.
El Saadawi, pictured in 1986, was a fierce critic of religion
El Saadawi visited the Occupy London camp at St Paul’s on her 80th birthday in 2011
From BBC- March 2021
“They said, ‘You are a savage and dangerous woman.’
“I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous.”
So wrote Nawal El Saadawi, who has died at the age of 89, according to Egyptian media reports.
The pioneering Egyptian doctor, feminist and writer spent decades sharing her own story and perspectives – in her novels, essays, autobiographies and eagerly attended talks.
Her brutal honesty and unwavering dedication to improving the political and sexual rights of women inspired generations.
But in daring to speak dangerously, she was also subjected to outrage, death threats and imprisonment.
“She was born with fighting spirit,” Omnia Amin, her friend and translator, told the BBC in 2020.
“People like her are rare.”
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