National and foreign media, along with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), burst over the demand of member of parliament Elhamy Agina to conduct virginity tests on women entering universities. Parliamentary speaker Ali Abdul Aal announced on Tuesday that Agina will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee, despite apologising for his suggestion.
MP Youssri Al-Moghazi tagged along, saying that he will file a bill to make virginity tests obligatory. Despite the legal action taken against Agina for insulting girls and women, Al-Moghazi said in a statement to privately-owned outlet Parlamany that he will not backpedal from his comment, adding that he cannot understand the “unfair” backlash Agina received for his remarks, as he totally supports the other MP’s suggestion.
Al-Moghazi further said that these tests will not only be applied on women entering universities, but also girls and women in vocational schools. The MP said: “Universities are full of drugs and prostitution, and girls dress as if they are belly dancers.”
He concluded by saying that if girls knew that they are going to undergo this measure, they will be afraid to engage in pre-marital sexual activities. He also claimed that Egypt will not be the first country to apply these tests.
President of the National Council for Women, Maya Morsi, issued a statement in which she expressed her absolute rejection of Agina’s apology and appealed to the general prosecutor to continue processing a lawsuit filed by the council against the MP. Morsi also called on all MPs to take a stand against Agina, who is distorting the parliament’s image and insulting Egyptian girls and women.
Agina’s comments have been put under the spotlight after he encouraged female genital mutilation (FGM), saying that it will curb women’s sexual desires since the majority of Egypt’s men suffer from impotence.
Even though several MPs and activists called for the termination of Agina’s membership in the parliament, Al-Moghazi followed in his footsteps and seconded his controversial suggestions.
