June 30: Egyptian Women's Pivotal Contribution

The Egyptian women played a pivotal role in recent revolutionary movements, represented in January 25 in 2011 and June 30 revolutions 2013.

June 30 was not an ordinary day in the history of the Egyptian people, but a fateful day and a milestone in the life of every Egyptian woman who took to streets demanding her rights, sharing her opinion and proving that she is able to choose and make decisions.

After Egyptians succeeded to overthrow the rule of the extremist group of the Muslim Brotherhood, a series of terrorist attacks were carried out against state facilities, security personnel, civilians and Copts. 

[caption id="attachment_134697" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Egyptian women took to streets on June 30 protesting at Brotherhood terrorism - SEE News[/caption]

In September 2013, a ruling by the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters banned the Brotherhood itself, the NGO, as well as "any institution belonging to the Brotherhood" or "receiving financial support from it".

In December the same year, the Brotherhood was declared a terrorist group, following a suicide bombing of a police headquarters in Mansoura, in the Nile Delta, which killed 16 people and wounded more than 100، according to the BCC news network.

Women's Contributions to June 30 Revolution

Earlier, Dr. Maya Morsi, chairwoman of the National Council for Women, said that the June 30 revolution saved Egyptian women and their rights from being lost by the Muslim Brotherhood and militant groups between 2011 and 2013, noting that women in Egypt have made great achievements during the last seven years.

Dr. Heba Hajras, a member of the House of Representatives, and Rapporteur of the Women with Disabilities Committee of the National Council for Women confirmed, in statements to the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper that the participation of Egyptian women and girls in the June 30 revolution proved the ability of women to make decisions and adherence to their political rights as men.

She added that the participation of Egyptian women in the June 30 revolution was the reason for the success of that revolution, getting rid of the Brotherhood rule and preserving women's rights.

[caption id="attachment_134699" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Egyptian women took to streets on June 30 protesting at Brotherhood terrorism - SEE News[/caption]

Egyptian women have a great political awareness and a distant vision for the future, according to Ambassador Mervat Al-Tallawy, the former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and former President of the National Council for Women.

After June 30, and over the past seven years, Egyptian women have become leaders in various fields.

On the occasion of reviving the June 3- revolution anniversary, she stressed that Egyptian women now have invaded all fields and professionalized in politics, as evidenced by their participation in elections, as their participation in elections exceeded 50 percent.

Al-Tallawy expressed her happiness with the participation of Egyptian women and their representation in ministries, parliament and other fields by 25 percent, pointing out that this is a positive indication that women live in their best ages.

Women were on the frontlines during the 30 June revolution which toppled the Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi. 

Sisi: Egyptian Women Were Vanguard of June 30 Revolution

In December 2019, President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi said during the African women session on the second day of the Aswan forum that Egyptian women stood in the vanguard of the 30 June Revolution when they sensed the danger to their country and the attempts to hijack the country's identity.

[caption id="attachment_67904" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sisi attends 2nd youth forum in Aswan[/caption]

No one can deny the role of the Egyptian woman, and her contribution also to the January 25 revolution.

"Although Egypt has witnessed a difficult economic reform programme, not even one single Egyptian citizen has come out to protest against it," Sisi noted.

In this context, the Egyptian president called on all women to take the initiative and not wait for anyone to give them their rightful place.

"Every time women are asked to hold a position, whether in the government or the provinces, they show that they are the most responsible and efficient and the least corrupt... there is no corruption at all," the president 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.