"Stay out of my Vagina" - award winning writer Mona Eltahawy

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November 24, 2015 4:02 PM

Award winning writer Mona Eltahawy warns every religious fascist to stay out of her vagina, except she wants them there.

Writing Our Way Out: Social Inequality in Africa" with Egyptian writer Mona Elthawy, Political scientist Jibrin Ibrahim, Ugandan writer Dilman Dila and South African author Siphiwo Mahala.

Award winning writer Mona Eltahawy warns every religious fascist to stay out of her vagina, except she wants them there.

She made the statement at the Ake Arts and Book Festival in a discussion session titled "Writing Our Way Out: Social Inequality in Africa" with Political scientist Jibrin Ibrahim, Ugandan writer Dilman Dila and South African author Siphiwo Mahala.

Eltahawy who is popularly known for her controversial book 'Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution' added that she would expunge the word 'Virgin and Virginity from the dictionary'

On religion she said: "I despise all religion, as every religion mostly favours men.

"They obsess about how to control women bodies. My message to all religion is to stay out of my vagina, except I want them there. It is time to take back our sexuality. I own my body, not the church, not the synagogue, not the family. As an adult woman, I can have sex with whoever and wherever, with their consent, of course."

Eltahawy who is originally from Egypt but has lived in the United States for almost 15 years finished by saying we should talk more about sex.

She said. "I think that it is important to say these things. We are told we should fight human rights violation, economic corruption first. But we talk about the problem of patriarchy like it's not important. The conversation has to become more dangerous, by talking more about sex. We must dethrone all patriarchs. I think patriarchy has to be at the centre of any discussion about social inequality."

Watch the video below. (Skip to 20:08)

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