Outcry in Egypt after lawmaker proposes 'virginity tests' for university entry

Cairo, Egypt (CNN)A member of Egypt's parliament has sparked an outcry after reportedly calling for women to be submitted to virginity tests before being allowed to go to university.
"Any girl who enters university, we have to check her medical examination to prove that she is a Miss. Therefore, each girl must present an official document upon being admitted to university stating she's a Miss," Elhamy Agina was quoted by the Egyptian daily Al-Youm Al-Sabe'a as saying.


Egyptian teenager dies after illegal genital mutilation
This is not the first time Agina has made headlines with his opinions. Last month, he defended female genital mutilation (FGM) by saying men are already having problems in bed.
"If we stop circumcision [of women], we will need strong men and we don't have this type of men," he told the Parlamany news website. In another outburst, he called on his female colleagues to dress modestly while in parliament.

Agina: Test would curb use of 'urfi'
The virginy tests would help curb the use of "urfi" -- or unregistered marriage -- Agina reportedly told local media.
Unregistered marriage, in which a couple signs a piece of paper attesting to their union, is a way of circumventing the religious and social prohibition of premarital sex. Urfi is not recognized by law, and families are often unaware that their children have signed up for it. The parents would be notified if their daughter failed the test, Agina added.
Agina was unmoved by the criticism at first: "If this decision upsets you then you are afraid that your daughter got married without your consent?" Agina asked Al-Youm Al-Sabe' newspaper last week.
But earlier this week Agina was pressed into offering an apology during an interview with a local TV station. He said it was "merely a suggestion" and a "spur of the moment comment."
"I apologize for the misunderstanding of my words," he said. "Egyptian girls are my mother, my sister and my daughter."
CNN was unable to reach Agina for comment.

Source: CNN