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Egypt's sexual harassment 'cancer' | Egypt's sexual harassment 'cancer' |
(3 days later) | |
By Magdi Abdelhadi BBC News, Cairo Noha Ostath's ordeal became a subject for discussion in the national press | By Magdi Abdelhadi BBC News, Cairo Noha Ostath's ordeal became a subject for discussion in the national press |
Sexual harassment of women in Egypt is on the increase and observing Islamic dress code is no deterrent, according to a survey published this week. | Sexual harassment of women in Egypt is on the increase and observing Islamic dress code is no deterrent, according to a survey published this week. |
The Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights (ECWR) describes the problem as a social cancer and calls on the government to introduce legislation to curb it. | The Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights (ECWR) describes the problem as a social cancer and calls on the government to introduce legislation to curb it. |
The findings contradict the widely held belief in Egypt that unveiled women are more likely to suffer harassment than veiled ones. | The findings contradict the widely held belief in Egypt that unveiled women are more likely to suffer harassment than veiled ones. |
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EGYPT Experienced by 98% of foreign women visitorsExperienced by 83% of Egyptian women62% of Egyptian men admitted harassing women53% of Egyptian men blame women for 'bringing it on' Source: Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights Participants in the survey were shown pictures of women wearing different kinds of dress - from the mini skirt to the niqab (full face veil) and asked which were more likely to be harassed. | SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EGYPT Experienced by 98% of foreign women visitorsExperienced by 83% of Egyptian women62% of Egyptian men admitted harassing women53% of Egyptian men blame women for 'bringing it on' Source: Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights Participants in the survey were shown pictures of women wearing different kinds of dress - from the mini skirt to the niqab (full face veil) and asked which were more likely to be harassed. |
More than 60% - including female respondents - suggested the scantily clad woman was most at risk. But in reality the study concluded the majority of the victims of harassment were modestly dressed women wearing Islamic headscarves. | More than 60% - including female respondents - suggested the scantily clad woman was most at risk. But in reality the study concluded the majority of the victims of harassment were modestly dressed women wearing Islamic headscarves. |
ECWR head Nihad Abu El-Qoumsan said that even veiled women who were victims of harassment blamed themselves. | ECWR head Nihad Abu El-Qoumsan said that even veiled women who were victims of harassment blamed themselves. |
Western women who took part in the study demonstrated a strong belief in their entitlement to personal safety and freedom of movement, she says, but this was totally absent among Egyptian respondents. | Western women who took part in the study demonstrated a strong belief in their entitlement to personal safety and freedom of movement, she says, but this was totally absent among Egyptian respondents. |
No-one spoke about freedom of choice, freedom of movement or the right to legal protection. No-one showed any awareness that the harasser was a criminal, regardless of what clothes the victim was wearing. | No-one spoke about freedom of choice, freedom of movement or the right to legal protection. No-one showed any awareness that the harasser was a criminal, regardless of what clothes the victim was wearing. |
Shocking attitude | Shocking attitude |
The centre is campaigning for a new law that clearly defines sexual harassment as a crime and makes it easier for women to report it in Egypt - women like Noha Ostath. | The centre is campaigning for a new law that clearly defines sexual harassment as a crime and makes it easier for women to report it in Egypt - women like Noha Ostath. |
Women are targets for harassment whether they are fully covered or notThe young film-maker told the BBC she was repeatedly groped in broad daylight by a van driver in a Cairo traffic jam as she walked on the pavement. | Women are targets for harassment whether they are fully covered or notThe young film-maker told the BBC she was repeatedly groped in broad daylight by a van driver in a Cairo traffic jam as she walked on the pavement. |
His behaviour made her so angry she ran after the van and held on to the side mirror to force the driver to stop so she could take him to a police station. | His behaviour made her so angry she ran after the van and held on to the side mirror to force the driver to stop so she could take him to a police station. |
She was equally shocked by the attitude of other passers-by. Some tried to dissuade her from going to the police - others blamed her for what she was wearing (a baggy sports outfit). | She was equally shocked by the attitude of other passers-by. Some tried to dissuade her from going to the police - others blamed her for what she was wearing (a baggy sports outfit). |
In the end, after a tussle with the man that lasted for more than one hour, the strong-willed Ms Ostath dragged the man to the police station. | |
But even there, police officers refused to open an investigation and insisted on the presence of her father despite the fact that she is not a minor - she is 26. | |
Impudent allegation | Impudent allegation |
After Noha's story was published in the Badeel daily, editor-in-chief Muhammad El Sayyed Said wrote that the behaviour of the crowd was characteristic of oppressed societies, where the majority identified with the oppressor. | After Noha's story was published in the Badeel daily, editor-in-chief Muhammad El Sayyed Said wrote that the behaviour of the crowd was characteristic of oppressed societies, where the majority identified with the oppressor. |
He blamed the increase in sexual harassment on what he said were "three decades of incitement against women" from the pulpits of some of Egypt's mosques. | He blamed the increase in sexual harassment on what he said were "three decades of incitement against women" from the pulpits of some of Egypt's mosques. |
"This verbal incitement is based on the extremely sordid and impudent allegation that our women are not modestly dressed. This was, and still is, a flagrant lie, used to justify violence against women in the name of religion." | "This verbal incitement is based on the extremely sordid and impudent allegation that our women are not modestly dressed. This was, and still is, a flagrant lie, used to justify violence against women in the name of religion." |
The British foreign office says Egypt is one of the countries with the highest number of cases reported to embassy staff regarding sexual offences against visiting women. | The British foreign office says Egypt is one of the countries with the highest number of cases reported to embassy staff regarding sexual offences against visiting women. |
It warns them to be extra cautious in public places especially when alone because of the risks. | It warns them to be extra cautious in public places especially when alone because of the risks. |
Ms Abou El-Qoumsan says Egyptians need to re-evaluate their value system and school curricula and to ensure that the rule of law prevails and prevents offenders and criminals walking free because of a breakdown of basic notions of right and wrong. | Ms Abou El-Qoumsan says Egyptians need to re-evaluate their value system and school curricula and to ensure that the rule of law prevails and prevents offenders and criminals walking free because of a breakdown of basic notions of right and wrong. |
Thanks to surveys like this, one encounters an endless number of newspaper articles reflecting the feeling that Egypt is in the grip of a moral crisis. | Thanks to surveys like this, one encounters an endless number of newspaper articles reflecting the feeling that Egypt is in the grip of a moral crisis. |
Perhaps nothing illustrates Egypt's loss of a moral compass than the responses of some men in the ECWR study. | Perhaps nothing illustrates Egypt's loss of a moral compass than the responses of some men in the ECWR study. |
Some said they harassed a woman simply because they were bored. One who abused a woman wearing the niqab said she must be beautiful, or hiding something. | Some said they harassed a woman simply because they were bored. One who abused a woman wearing the niqab said she must be beautiful, or hiding something. |
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