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Single Egyptian mothers face stigma head-on

More of Egypt's single mothers are braving scorn and pity to raise their voices and demand their rights.

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A woman carrying her infant son sells napkins at an old cattle market in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 19, 2015. — REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

When TV presenter Doaa Salah broached the thorny issue of single motherhood on her weekly “Dodi Show” on Al Nahar last July, she probably had no idea that she would end up fired and sentenced to three years in prison.

Sporting a fake baby bump in the studio, she boldly asked female viewers if they had ever considered engaging in premarital sex. She also suggested that women marry for a short period to have a baby and lamented that sperm donation is prohibited in Egypt. She faced a fierce backlash for her "immoral remarks.”

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