Egyptians want to ban fake virginity kit
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/6264741/Egyptians-want-to-ban-fake-virginity-kit.htmlConservative Egyptian politicians have called for a ban on imports of a Chinese-made 'hymen' kit meant to help women fake their virginity
One scholar has even called for the "exile" of anyone who imports or uses the Artificial Virginity Hymen kit, distributed by the Chinese company Gigimo and advertised for export to the Middle East at a cost of about $30 (£19).
The product, which leaks a blood-like substance when broken, is intended to help newly married women fool their husbands into believing they are virgins - culturally important in a conservative Middle East where sex before marriage is considered by many to be illicit.
he fracas started when a reporter from Radio Netherlands broadcast an Arabic translation of the Chinese advertisement of the product. That set off fears of conservative parliament members that Egyptian women might start ordering the kits.
Sheik Sayed Askar, a member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood who is on the parliamentary committee on religious affairs, alleged the kit will make it easier for Egyptian women to give in to temptation. He demanded the government take responsibility for fighting the product to uphold Egyptian and Arab values.
"It will be a mark of shame on the ruling party if it allowed this product to enter the market," he said in a notice posted on the Brotherhood's parliamentary website.
The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest political opposition group, holds 88 of Egypt's 454 parliamentary seats.
The prominent Egyptian religious scholar, Abdel Moati Bayoumi, said anyone who imports the artificial hymen should be punished.
"This product encourages illicit sexual relations. Islamic culture forbids these relations except within the confines of marriage," he said. "I think this should absolutely not be allowed to be exported because it brings more harm than benefits. Whoever does it [imports it] should be punished."
The company did not respond immediately to questions from the Associated Press.
