| | The novelist Nawal el-Saadawi declared herself a candidate for the 2005 presidential elections, not hoping or intending to win, but to symbolise the new assertiveness of Egyptian women. Others who are active Muslims are determined on greater equality in public and private life. Change was in the air in Cairo last year. From the start of 2005 people of different backgrounds, from leftist to Islamist, took to the streets to protest against President Hosni Mubarak - in power for a quarter of a century who was seeking a fifth term of office later that year in the September presidential elections. Kefaya! (Enough), people said, and gave that name to the Popular Movement for Change. |
