-
Nawal El-Saadawi A Vindication of the Rights of Arab Women

Nawal El-Saadawi is a controversial figure who contributed to the development of women’s rights through her work as a Physician and through writing outputs. Egyptian/African El-Saadawi known in different aspects: medicine, feminism, writer and psychiatrist, not only in the Arab World but Worldwide as a pioneer advocate towards raising the status of women during an era when women were deprived to achieve their full rights.
In her childhood Nawal El-Saadawi protested against gender favouritism related to discrimination/diversity between girls and boys, led to important queries: “why names of children attributed to father’s name and not to mother’s.
Over and above as a girl her movement to go outside the house was conditional to be permitted by her parents, such rule was repulsed, therefore transformed this reject into acts: not only she sneaked out but also had a hair cut in denial of the say: “woman’s hair is her crown”.
During 1950’s women were faced by sexual harassment but did not dare a say: El-Saadawi too was subjected to this: at six was forced to undergo genital mutilation! The second harassment was from the doorman, like others did not declare the incident.
Rebelling against the constraint of family society measures taken against girls, she decided to study medicine, and was the only woman in the faculty then.
In her dailies: “Memoirs of a Woman Doctor” Nawal El-Saadawi denounced cultural belief in marriage; “A good cook is a good wife” this is unfair for Arab wives as they will end up trapped in kitchen with the continuous smell of onions and garlic.
She herself gave up three marriages each of a cause of violating her rights.
Additionally, while practicing medicine in rural areas she dedicated herself to undertake women’s issues including virtue, violence by men who controlled their lives. Revealing too many acts practised mainly honour crimes. El-Saadawi confronted the reason: why sinned male kills his sinned sister or daughter, while he might be guiltier by his acts?
Queries lead to be a woman’s rights protector by showing in upcoming Memoires stories about other women suffers. Most of which was accumulated in Memoirs of a Women Doctor and in the famous story prisoner Firdaus who was sentenced to death for murdering her pimp. Firdaus life journey full of mistreatment and rejection by family, society; ends her up on street. Thus, will lead readers to a strong belief that everyone in Firdaus’s life is responsible directly or indirectly for her falling into prostitution.
Women at Point Zero published 1975 in Arabic; a real story based on meeting with female prisoner who retold to El-Saadawi her life story before execution. A woman at Point Zero was translated to English 1983 by Dr. Sherif Hatata (1923 – 2017) ex-husband of El-Saadawi and a Physician too.
El-Sadaawi advocated against circumcision that is made in primitive/illegal way resulting the death of thousands of girls constantly. Additionally is against male circumcision too.
Critiques thought that El-Saadawi demands were “impossible to change”, since its contents are deep-rooted in population minds and in law.
Among:
Hijab, if it is an obligation, then why men do not wear it?
Equality in inheritance.
Ending polygamy, and/or permit polygamy for wives too.
Sex is a free decision by individuals.
El-Saadawi 1931-2021 died at age of 90 after a bitter struggle with illness. Leaving behind 40 books most translated to English.
Unforgettable scientific/literary personality, dedicated her life to free slavery, liberation for all, and rid society of legacies that delays its progress.
In addition, contributed to codifying precedents and revealed secrets related to women. In presence, in absence, El-Saadawi left a debate between rejections of her principals culturally and socially versus the acceptance by radical/democratic reform groups and feminist movements over Globe.
By: Rouquia Alami
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!