Renowned Egyptian feminist, writer, psychiatrist and former political prisoner Nawal El Saadawi has died at the age of 89. El Saadawi was the founder and president of the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and an outspoken defender of women’s rights, campaigning against sexual oppression, imperialism and female genital mutilation. She described her own experience with the practice in the book “Hidden Face of Eve.” In 2011, she joined the uprising in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. Nawal El Saadawi spoke to Democracy Now! during the Egyptian revolution.

Nawal El Saadawi: “Women and girls are beside boys in the streets. And we are calling for justice, freedom and equality, and real democracy and a new constitution, no discrimination between men and women, no discrimination between Muslims and Christians, to change the system, to change the people who are governing us, the system and the people, and to have a real democracy. That’s what women are saying.”

That was Nawal El Saadawi, speaking to Democracy Now! on January 31, 2011. She has died at the age of 89. Click here to see all of our interviews with Nawal El Saadawi.