Women took part in 2013 protests to ‘protect Egyptian identity’: Sisi

CAIRO – 12 December 2019: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hailed the role played by the Egyptian women, who he said “tasked themselves” to take part in the June 30 revolution in 2013, which ousted former President Mohamed Morsi, also leader of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

During his speech at a session dubbed "To enhance the role of African women to achieve peace, security and development," as part of the second day of the Aswan Forum held in Egypt, Sisi said millions of Egyptian women took to streets during the June 30 revolution to protect the Egyptian identity.

Although the regime at the time came to power through general elections in 2012, the Egyptian women, after a year, found that their way of ruling would ruin the Egyptian state, Sisi said.

He added that over 30 million people took to streets in the June 30 revolution, affirming that he appreciates and respects the role of the Egyptian women among those masses.

On July 24 the same year, Sisi asked Egyptians to show up in the streets to give him the authorization to fight terrorism. Sisi, during the session, said Egyptian women escorted their children that day and filled streets, among 35 million Egyptian citizens to affirm support to Sisi, then defense minister, to confront possible violence.

Sisi also praised the Egyptian women’s performance when assuming an administrative work or a government position, saying that their performance is always excellent and is better than that of some men.

Sisi described women as less corrupt and more efficient when taking high-level posts, then said, “there is not any corruption.”

Sisi opened Wednesday the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa, the first to be held in the Upper Egyptian city of Aswan, the capital of African youth.

A number of African heads of state and government, as well as officials, are taking part in the event meant to open new channels toward achieving peace and sustainable development in the continent.

The two-day forum comes upon an initiative by Sisi after assuming the chairmanship of the African Union.