watch the full video below (subtitles for non arabic speakers)
Quote:
One of Egypt’s leading young actresses, Mona Hala, has given an outspoken interview in which she calls for the rights of sexual minorities in her homeland to be respected.
In it she asks why it is necessary that the government includes her gender on her identity cards.
‘As far as I’m concerned they should delete that field from our ID cards … Why shouldn’t I be treated as a human being? Why does my sex have to be recorded? Why does the government have to know it? Why is it so important whether you are male or female?’
In response her interviewer asks what she would think would happen if a man went about dressed as a woman if gender was not recorded on ID cards.
‘Don’t you think it would be better if we knew what his gender is? … Somebody might be a homosexual’ he asks.
‘He is free to be one,’ Hala replies, ‘It is not my place to pass moral judgement on people. It’s none of my business.’
‘Homosexuality has existed since ancient times. Many people throughout history have been like that, so who are we to judge them? Alexander the Great who built Alexandria was homosexual. Is that a reason to destroy Alexandria or to change its name?’
Hala also touched on the suggestion that gay and lesbian tourists should be prevented from visiting Egypt or should be deported if they were discovered in the country.
‘I am opposed to discrimination against any human being, whether on the basis of skin color, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Anything,’ she said.
‘It is the same as if, after the [Charlie Hebdo attack] in France by Muslim terrorists, they had prevented all Muslims from entering France. It’s not fair … It’s the same as preventing all homosexuals from entering Egypt.’
‘Let’s say that someone [is in a same-sex relationship] in his country and he wants to come to Egypt to see the antiquities and so on – what right to you have to prevent him from doing so? I don’t get it.
So open-minded, conservative Muslim-majority countries need more people to speak up about these issues. Discrimination of women, LGBT, and religious minorities. Good for her for speaking out, she's helping the cause
great person tbh. she seems like a genuinely sweet person. hope her life is not in danger though because of this. I don't know how egypte functions tbh but with all this ISIS stuff I wouldn't be shocked if we hear about her getting hurt or something.
however I hope more open minded arab and muslim celebs and politicians speak up about LGBT , religious, racial and female rights in the middle east and north africa!
great person tbh. she seems like a genuinely sweet person. hope her life is not in danger though because of this. I don't know how egypte functions tbh but with all this ISIS stuff I wouldn't be shocked if we hear about her getting hurt or something.
however I hope more open minded arab and muslim celebs and politicians speak up about LGBT , religious, racial and female rights in the middle east and north africa!
They skipped over Egypt and if they try to ruin any monuments the Egyptian army will blow them to Kingdom Come
great person tbh. she seems like a genuinely sweet person. hope her life is not in danger though because of this. I don't know how egypte functions tbh but with all this ISIS stuff I wouldn't be shocked if we hear about her getting hurt or something.
