Egypt: Blogger loses job for uncovering fake virginity story · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

While bleeding on the wedding night is still the proof of the bride's honor in Egypt and Middle Eastern countries, Radio Netherlands broadcast an Arabic translation of the Chinese advertisement of the Artificial Virginity Hymen kit. Youm7 newspaper announced that the product will be available on the Egyptian market for LE 83. And as if Egyptian women were all waiting for the miracle hymen to embark on pre-marital sex, conservative parliament members want the product banned and any importer exiled or beheaded. Egyptians began wondering if Egypt will start importing Chinese Hymens and Amira Al Tahawi, who used to work with Radio Netherlands at the time, got fired for blowing the whistle over the fabricated Chinese hymen story.
On her blog Amira Al Tahawi wrote:
Many bloggers found the decision to fire her ridiculous and unjustified; Nawara Negm wondered:
Eman Hashim is lamenting the integrity of journalism; she wrote:
Dr. Mostafa El Nagaar wrote in Amira's defense saying:
Mostafa Fathi also posted a note on Facebook and Karim El Beheiry published a post on his blog in solidarity with Amira.
In October 2009, Mohamed Al Rahal ordered a hymen kit and posted photos in his blog, as noted in a previous Global Voices story.