Opposition Leader In Togo Calls On Women To Go On ‘Sex Strike’ To Protest Government
The leader of an opposition party in the African nation of Togo is calling for a rather unique protest:
A Togolese opposition leader is calling on women to go on a weeklong sex strike to demand the freedom of protesters detained ahead of elections in the West African nation.
Police arrested about 120 opposition supporters last week during clashes between protesters and security forces, according to Togolese human rights groups.
Government officials said all but eight had been released, and those still detained were in possession of knives.
“You don’t go demonstrate with these,” security minister Damehane Yark said of the weapons.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets in the capital of Lome for weeks to protest new electoral reforms they say favor the ruling party ahead of October’s parliamentary elections. They are seeking a repeal of changes to the electoral laws.
Protests continued Saturday, with a female opposition leader calling for sex strikes starting Monday.
“I am inviting all women to observe a one-week sex strike, fasting and prayers to set our arrested brothers and husbands free,” said Isabelle Ameganvi, leader of the opposition Let’s Save Togo. “So all you ladies have to keep the gate of your ‘motherland’ locked up to all men from Monday up to Sunday.”
Only for a week, though?
Didn’t some other African nation do this some time back? I seem to remember that the Lysistrata gambit was highly successful.
“Keep the gate of your motherland locked up…” Well, she DOES have a way with metaphor.
The fact that the first comment has a Lysistrata reference is what keeps me coming back to OTB.