Ateny Wek:'Talking about my sexuality is not a crime’

South Sudan Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny denies being sexist after the controversial video of him expressing his feelings toward women emerged on social media.

Photo: Ateny Wek Ateny at SBS studios, in 13 July 2017 Source: SBS

Highlights

• Ateny Wek Ateny denied allegations made against him after the video
• Ateny talk about why South Sudanese journalists don't interview President Kiir
• Ateny Wek refused to apologise to South Sudanese women

 

The video circulated on social media was branded as a 'sexist and derogatory' speech by women's advocates.

 'If I see a woman, my heart stopped! If I see a beautiful woman passing next to me, that shakes my heart, and I feel like vomiting. I feel like grabbing her and pulling her away because this thing is in blood......."

 In this exclusive interview, Ateny Wek Ateny refused to apologise to anyone offended by the videos but blamed the sharing of the video clip on his political opponents. Ateny spoke to SBS Dinka while in Kenya and said he was not representing President Kiir when he spoke at the wedding.  

 "To say I love women is not a crime.......and. I have not committed any crime against anyone. I was advising the new family, and I was not representing President Kiir."