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In a recent TV interview, Egyptian women's rights activist and author Nawal El Saadawi came out in support of homosexual rights, saying that homosexuality was "the result of upbringing, trauma, and genetics" and adding that homosexuals "are very normal" and that "some of them are geniuses." She further said that Egypt "will not change unless we stop talking about restricting the intellectuals."
Following are excerpts from the interview, which aired on the Egyptian Al-Assema TV channel on June 4, 2015.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Nobody chooses his religion.
Interviewer: But some people change their religion. They have the freedom to change it.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Inherited belief is worthless. We have all inherited our religion.
Interviewer: But some people change their religion.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Yes, to a certain extent. Some people do it for marriage, others for divorce...
Interviewer: But some people do it because they do not believe...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Some people convert to Islam in order to get divorced. The most important thing is...
Interviewer: Let's talk about the basic principals.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: There is no such thing as basic principals.
Interviewer: Look, Dr. Narwal, excuse me for...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: You are interrupting me. I can't talk. You people are afraid. You are afraid.
Interviewer: We are not afraid. If we were, we wouldn't have invited you.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: So why are you interrupting me?
Interviewer: Okay, go on. I just wanted to proceed in...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: You brought me here as a sort of provocation, but I want to talk reasonably and calmly. This country will not change, unless we stop talking about restricting the intellectuals. These restrictions are a mistake. I wrote an article called: "The Forbidden Questions Children Ask." From when a child goes to school - or even since he is born - he is constantly being told that something is prohibited or shameful, or that something is permitted. This destroys one's mind.
[...]
One third of the world's population are homosexuals. It got to the point that laws in the US and Europe were changed, in order to accommodate the homosexuals. They changed the laws to allow men to marry men.
[...]
[Homosexuality] is the result of upbringing, trauma, and genetics... There are many reasons. We should understand this. Instead, we denounce them, saying that they are bad people with no morals, and we throw them in prison.
[...]
I am analyzing a sick phenomenon. It's as if you asked me if I condone cancer...
Interviewer: So you admit that [homosexuality] is like cancer?
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: No. Social and sick phenomena have their causes.
Interviewer: Is this a sick phenomenon?
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: No, no. I didn't say that. If that were true, one third of the world would be sick. This phenomenon has causes. Those homosexuals are very normal. Some of them are geniuses.
Interviewer: If they are so normal, why are they not allowed to get married in Egypt, like they can abroad?
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Why are you imposing your opinion upon them? I don't understand.
[...]
Interviewer: We have lawyer Nabih Al-Wahsh with us...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: No, I'm sorry. I'm leaving. I'm out of here. You set me up. You didn't tell me this. I'm leaving.
Interviewer: He's on the phone.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: I refuse to be on the same show with him, because he has caused a lot of problems and has peddled religion. I am not willing to hear what he has to say.
Interviewer: Are you really going to get up and leave?!
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: I will! I'm out of here.
[...]
You deceived me.
Interviewer: That's a serious accusation.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Well, you did.
Interviewer: Why?!
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: You did not tell me that that individual was coming.
Interviewer: He is not coming. He's just commenting over the phone.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: You didn't tell me. I would have said no.
[...]
Interviewer: Enough. I apologize [to Al-Wahsh]. You do not believe in dialogue.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: I believe in dialogue, but I do not believe in this kind of media.
Interviewer: Let me just apologize to lawyer Nabih Al-Wahsh. I apologize, but Dr. Nawal has refused to accept this phone call...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Of course I did.
Interviewer: First of all, retreat is defeat.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Listen...
Interviewer: Look...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Nobody is capable of defeating me.
Interviewer: We saw what happened.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: That's no defeat.
Interviewer: We are live on air.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: I have self-respect. Let me tell you something. Some people told me not to go on this TV network. They said it is controlled by the security agencies...
Interviewer: Security agencies?!
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Yes, that's what they told me...
Interviewer: We have good people, journalists...
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: They told me that you publish all kinds of leaks from the security agencies... They told me that you would fuck me over, and that's exactly what you have done.
[...]
There are many gods. There are many notions of God.
Interviewer: That's not what I'm talking about. I am talking about God, Creator of the Universe.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: You are talking about your god.
Interviewer: Who are you talking about?
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: I am talking about the gods throughout the universe. There are many gods.
Interviewer: What god do you believe in?
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Ours.
Interviewer: But you are saying that there are many gods.
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi: Now look here, you are trying to set me up, so that you can say that Nawal El Saadawi is a heretic.
[…]
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