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Although Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is forbidden by law in Egypt and banned in public and private hospitals and clinics, official statistics show that by the end of the 1990s around 96% of all adult women in Egypt were still circumcised. This controversial-yet-level-headed documentary examines why FGM is practiced, the reactions to it and its medical, historical, cultural and sexual significance – all from women’s perspectives and in women’s voices. 

Film: The Thread and the Wall
By Mohamed Khaled
Documentary, 2015, Egypt, 49 min., Arabic/Engl. subt.

This film is part of the Women On Walls (WOW) graffiti project which was launched in early 2013 with the aim of using graffiti to both focus on women's issues and rights, and to empower female graffiti artists. Within this framework 40 artists brought graffiti art to the streets of four Egyptian cities: Mansoura, Alexandria, Cairo and Luxor. The director, who is a fine artist himself traces the hopes and challenges experienced by participating artists and, at the same time, uncovers the overlap between the creative process and the participants' personal at times shocking experiences. 

Discussion with Dina El-Sharnouby (FU Berlin), Ahmed Badawi (FU Berlin), Sara Abbas (FU Berlin) and Visual Artist Hanaa El-Deghem