Former S politician: Criminalization of innocence operations plays into the hands of the clans

From the Minister for Gender Equality, Paulina Brandberg, it is a clear yes to the criminalization of virginity operations.

But this would not solve the problem, says the former S-politician Nalin Pekgul, when she and the Minister for Gender Equality debate virginity interventions on SVT's Aktuellt.  

Pekgul believes that virginity surgeries are needed to give the woman the opportunity to choose, while at the same time giving less room for the clan leaders to control the women.  

- I want to challenge the clan leaders and say that you talk nonsense about virgins.

You can operate and you have no power over the women, says Pekgul.  

However, the Minister for Gender Equality does not agree with this.  

- I usually agree with Nalin Pekgul, but in this particular matter you have ended up wrong.

Such an operation strengthens the myth that you have to bleed, says Brandberg.

Broad criminalization 

When it comes to this type of operation, it is an expression of honor oppression.

Equality Minister Paulina Brandberg is clear about this.

Therefore, she proposes not only to make it illegal for medical personnel to perform the procedures, but also wants to see a broader criminalization that includes virginity checks, virginity certificates and religious leaders.

- We want to go further than the previous government.

We have expanded the investigation that was previously carried out and it will be reported in July.

Virginity surgeries are needed 

On the contrary, says Nalin Pekgul, the possibility of carrying out "virginity interventions" means that the myth of honor about virginity diminishes.

For the women concerned, this is also an opportunity to choose what they want to do.  

- These women have the right to decide on their lives.

It is not always that others force them, she says.

Sometimes it can be about being worried about what your guy thinks.  

- I have met these girls and usually tell them: "If there is a guy who loves you, then he will not care about it, and if there is no one who loves you, then it is a piece of shit that it is nice to get rid of.", says Nalin Pekgul.  

Hear the Minister for Gender Equality Paulina Brandberg and the former S-politician Nalin Pekgul discuss virginity operations in this evening's Aktuellt.