WUNRN
WLUML Interview with Egypt Women's Rights Activist, Samira Ibrahim
Our WLUML conversation with
women's rights activist Samira Ibrahim of Egypt, was inspirational. She opened
up about her background - where it all began - and about her exciting current
work. Samira also spoke to us about the many forms of state violence that she
has faced along the way.
“I was arrested several times, slapped around
and sent home,” she told us wryly. Samira has stood witness to repression,
brutality, tumult and transition, but through it all she has retained a winning
sense of humour and humility.
Arrested at 15
Samira was fifteen years old
when she was first arrested. She wrote a composition at school criticizing
state policies towards Palestine. A legal case was brought against her, despite
her young age. Ever since that point, Samira has been viewed as a threat to the
police state.
Samira was inspired by her
parents’ activism. In particular, her father seems to be a great inspiration.
She remembers, “My dad used to tell me that we have a gang in the government”.
Samira’s father was a member of Jama’aa Islamiya and her mother was in the
Muslim Brotherhood. They have always stood in opposition to the ruling
elite.
As a youth, on her way back
from school, Samira would break the lamps in the street so that she could come
back when it’s dark to post on them flyers that read, “A gang is governing
Egypt”. Officials installed a local check point so as to be able to detain the
culprit, only to find that behind this subversive act was just a teenage girl.
“The officer who arrested me couldn’t believe that it was me who has been doing
this,” Samira told us.
Because I argue
“I used to be in the Muslim
Brotherhood but I left a long time ago, because I used to argue.” This is how
Samira began to tell us about her experience with the Brotherhood. She was
raised in a conservative family, and growing up her closed social circle was
primarily made up of members of the Brotherhood. However, unlike others, Samira
used to argue with her Sheikh. This is why she was seen as a threat. Her
independence, defiance and stubbornness didn’t only threaten Mubarak’s police
state but also the Sheikhs! “I encouraged the whole class to argue, this is why
they asked me to leave the class,” she added.
The constitution and workers’
rights
Samira’s activism before the
Egyptian revolution revolved around the Constitution and workers’ rights. She
fought against the extreme and wide-ranging powers that Mubarak had given
himself via the Egyptian constitution and his plans to groom his son to
‘inherit’ presidency after him. In 2008 she joined the workers’ strike. The
strike started in Upper Egypt that year in an aluminium factory. Since then she
has worked with the workers and travelled with them to ‘Mahlla’, a large
agricultural and industrial city known for its dominant textile industry. Her
participation in these protests and strikes led to her arrest again.
The revolution
Active in the political
protests in Tahrir Square, Samira was arrested on January 26, 2011, and
released two days later on the 28th of January. She participated in a sit-in until she was
again arrested on the 9th of March 2011 when army tanks and soldiers
entered the Square and forcibly dispersed protestors. Samira was transferred to
a military prison along with other detainees, where she was electrocuted
several times. She was then forced to subject to a ‘virginity test’.
The case
Samira took the Supreme
Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) to court for their acts of torture and cruel and
inhuman treatment. Although a military court this March acquitted the military
doctor who performed the so-called ‘virginity test’, she believes her bravery
in speaking out has made a major impact. There is now a court order in effect
that bans the use of ‘virginity tests’ on all prisoners. Ever moving forward,
Samira is now taking her complaint to the African Commission, which is expected
to issue recommendations against this practice. Her courage in holding the
military to account for their brutality has been an inspiration to many men and
women in Egypt.
Samira’s current activism
A passionate activist, Samira
is on the move. She works non-stop to improve the status of her society. She
told us that she feels the pain of her people and is doing her utmost to help
in whatever way she can. Today, Samira
is spearheading two bold initiatives. The first, ‘Know Your Rights’, works in Upper Egypt to address illiteracy,
reach out to street children and raise awareness. Her second initiative is
called ‘Let’s sign the International Criminal Court treaty” as she believes
that there are many current and ex-officials who should be sent to the ICC to
be held accountable for their wrong-doings.
What lies in the future of
this woman of conviction, determination and integrity? Samira plans to run as a
candidate for the next round of Egyptian parliamentary elections.
When asked what advice she
would give young Egyptian women who want to join the struggle for social
justice and to participate in politics in a traditional patriarchal society her
response was “Go for it! Nothing is impossible even if it seems like it at
first .As with any choice we make there is a price to be paid no doubt. I paid
the price with my reputation, but that is alright because it is done in the
name of a greater cause.”