Egyptian feminist author Nawal al-Saadawi has passed away on Sunday at age 90 after struggling with illness. Saadawi had made a name for herself due to her bold opinions and staunch defense of women’s rights. Born in 1931 in Qaliubiya’s Kafr Tahla village, Saadawi was brought up in a large traditional family with eight siblings. According to Time magazine, her 1972 book “Women and Sex” established her as a true defender of women’s rights in Egypt, fearlessly criticizing the violence women endure such as circumcision in rural communities. “Prison was a rebirth”, the magazine wrote in reference to Saadawi’s time spent imprisoned for speaking against the state.

Source: Egypt Independent March 21, 2021 13:18 UTC