Monday, April 21, 2008
Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian author Dr. Sharif Hatata, husband of Egyptian author Nawal Al-Sa'dawi, which aired on Al-Mihwar TV on March 31, 2008.
Interviewer: When I entered the house, I saw the name "Dr. Nawal Al-Sa'dawi" on the door. It is customary to have the husband's name - let's say, "Dr. Sharif Hatata." I even thought the production crew had made a mistake, and had given me the wrong address, when we saw the name of Dr. Nawal Al-Sa'dawi on the door. How do you explain this?
Dr. Sharif Hatata: It was me who prepared the sign on the door.
Interviewer: You?
Dr. Sharif Hatata: Yes, me. I did this for a simple reason - Dr. Nawal Al-Sa'dawi is more famous than me. This reflects the truth, regardless of the fact that she is a woman and I am a man. What's important to me is the human being, and I don't care whether this human being is a man or a woman. In my opinion, many women are better than men, and there are also men who are better than women. I did this because I hold Dr. Nawal in esteem, and I want to make a statement and bring about change...
Worth watching in full. We tend to emphasize the negative so much, it's good to know this is out there.
Greta Berlin should be wearing a hijab, for obvious reasons.
Dr. Al Dr. Nawal Al-Sa'dawi should be required reading in the West (and of course in Egypt!)
She's been jailed for her views; her courage is legendary - it's one thing to be a feminist in New York - quite another in Cairo.
Meanwhile people reading her work will be stunned by its honesty.