(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Rebellion. – I'm always optimistic. I never let despair take over. I believe that hope and knowledge cultivate power.
She sits opposite us when she says it, 79-year-old Nawal El-Saadawi from Egypt. The legendary doctor, author and feminist were on a Norwegian visit last week. The occasion was the premiere of director Nefisse Lorentzen's documentary A balloon to Allah, which was shown at NRK on Women's Day 8. March.
We meet Saadawi on a sofa at the Grand Hotel. She has given Ny Tid far more time than the other media. Since June 2009, Ny Tid has printed her exclusive contribution to the "Without Borders" column (see her first column after the revolution here ). During the revolution days until the fall of Hosni Mubarak on February 14, she asked Ny Tid to publish the columns in English and Arabic on the internet, since she could not access her own websites. Saadawi is best known for its creative power and radical thinking:
- My message here also in Norway is creativity, system criticism, women's rights, patriarchal oppression and the importance of secularism. And how these factors interact with each other. There are both major and important issues, says a committed Saadawi.
She turns 80 in October, but seems far younger. She travels alone, around the world. On Women's Day, she was in New York talking. Just before March 8, she was voted the largest non-royal female role model among Arabs – beaten only by Queen Rania of Jordan and Qatar's first lady.
"Mother of the Revolution"
Saadawi has also for decades been the most highly voiced female voice in the Arab world. The Arab TV channel Al-Jazeera dubbed her the "mother of the revolution". She tells us that what happened in Egypt was a lifelong dream that has now come true. Now she has hopes that Egypt will become a secular country, as a consequence of the revolution.
- Secularism is the right path to take to achieve peace and freedom. Religion should be separate from public life, from the constitution, from the state, from the school system, culture, media and from all legislation – including family laws. This is where the core of freedom lies. I believe a secular society will guarantee women's rights, says the New Time writer to us in the hotel lobby.
Suddenly, the leading feminist is being beaten over the end by a man who puts up the banner for the Oslo Rotary Club. The symbolism is striking.
Saadawi has been an active driver of a Global Solidarity Movement for a Secular Society («Global Solidarity for Secular Society", See also her New Time column and translation from August 2009, as well Saadawi's website). The purpose of the movement is to save men and women from unjust laws legitimized in the name of religion.
- The Egyptian constitution is currently religious, and as long as it is, the people will not experience any major changes. The constitution must undergo a secularisation as soon as possible. We need a non-discriminatory constitution, where everyone is on an equal footing. It is a good starting point, she says.
During 18 days of protests, 30 years of dictatorship were history. The Egyptian youths have received tribute for their efforts in the fight against Mubarak's regime. The ragged 79-year-old witnessed it all with his own eyes. She stood shoulder to shoulder with the youths at the Liberation Square and demanded freedom.
- Our world needs a "mind revolution", a mental revolution. We must stop covering the human mind. I'm concerned with the truth. We must learn from what happened in Egypt. People who swore to different ideological beliefs stood together. We were one people fighting for one common cause. There lay our strength, in our unity.
Arab world citizen
Sadaawi rays. She is pleased with how the news of the Egyptian liberation struggle inspired and mobilized the oppressed in other oppressed countries rebelling against injustice. Among other things, she believes that we must break with the patriarchal legacy of Pharaoh's time, the one that has been inherited for generations. The legacy that excludes women, which keeps them out of politics and public. It is not only Mubarak and Arab dictators that she criticizes, but also the culture of so-called Western countries.
- Both capitalism and imperialism are evil. More and more women and poor people are falling into their clutches. We must free ourselves from their grip. The future is in our hands, she says.
Saadawi says that she views herself as a world citizen. She believes that global problems are everyone's problems, since we are all part of a global network. That is why the young revolutionaries give her hope. She has been fighting for years what happened in Egypt. Mubarak may be out of the picture, but she strongly warns against believing the match is over.
- I think Mubarak's party will disappear. It has no value anymore. But on the other hand, Mubarak's men are still there, working to maintain his political power. The military and the prime minister are his allies, as well as other foreign powers. We have only succeeded in removing Mubarak, the head of the system, but the body is still in perfect condition. So the fight is not over.
Six years ago, in 2005, she ran as Mubarak's opponent in the presidential election. She herself says that she is not a politician. The action was symbolic, she wanted to defy the then regime – to revolt, to send signals that the oppressors could not order the people to dance to their tune.
- Ever since I learned to walk on my two legs, I have rebelled against what I considered unfair. I tend to say that I have struggled since childhood. My fighting spirit has not weakened over the years, but rather strengthened. I'm a rebellious person who hates injustice. It pays to rebel. It gives results. Freedom is not given, it must be conquered!
Overall against Mubarak
The prominent feminist has been jailed for expressing his views under both President Anwar Sadat and President Hosni Mubarak. She has received death threats and been persecuted. As a result, she has at times had to live in exile. Despite this, she still has to raise her voice.
- We won the revolution on February 14, when Mubarak abdicated from the throne. People are aware of their rights. Rich, poor, everyone, wanted a change. But the revolution is still going on. The revolutionaries will not leave Tahrir Square until a democratic system of government is in place.
Egypt's outlook looks better than it has in a long time. Sadaawi believes there are several composite solutions to the existing problems in the country.
- We have to get involved. Be active in building our country. We must not leave that responsibility to just the leaders. All citizens have a responsibility.
On Women's Day, Sadaawi helped organize the women's train in Cairo. She is now also involved in the reconstruction of the Women's Association in Egypt. This association was turned down under Mubarak's rule. As long as the old laws are there, there is no room for free organization and party formation, she points out.
- The people must agree on their issues, we must cooperate, look past each other's differences. The women must get three out, and stand for presidential election. I encourage them to make themselves visible. There must be radical changes in the constitution. Prohibition of organizational and party formations on removed. Then we are well on our way to a better society. I have high hopes that it can be realized, says Saadawi.
And so she ends, this little, big woman – "the mother of the revolution." Her optimism is, frankly, contagious.
