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How Egyptians are fighting harassment in the streets How Egyptians are fighting harassment in the streets
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Like many Egyptian women, Nihal Saad Zaghloul is no stranger to street harassment. But it was one incident in particular that made the 26-year-old IT worker decide to do something about it. Along with some friends, she was attacked by a group of men in Cairo's Tahrir Square in June: "They started groping me and grabbing (my) hijab. I lost my friends, I was terrified – some (other) men hid me behind a small kiosk."Like many Egyptian women, Nihal Saad Zaghloul is no stranger to street harassment. But it was one incident in particular that made the 26-year-old IT worker decide to do something about it. Along with some friends, she was attacked by a group of men in Cairo's Tahrir Square in June: "They started groping me and grabbing (my) hijab. I lost my friends, I was terrified – some (other) men hid me behind a small kiosk."
Traumatised and furious, Nihal blogged about the incident at length, but writing wasn't enough. The following week, she formed an anti-harassment group, inviting about 60 men and women, via Facebook, to gather on Mohamed Mahmoud street, near Tahrir Square, to protest peacefully against harassment. They were set upon by "about 50 men", who groped the women and beat up the men. But Nihal was undeterred, setting up a website to post her blogs detailing instances of harassment. "By July," she says, "the movement had begun."Traumatised and furious, Nihal blogged about the incident at length, but writing wasn't enough. The following week, she formed an anti-harassment group, inviting about 60 men and women, via Facebook, to gather on Mohamed Mahmoud street, near Tahrir Square, to protest peacefully against harassment. They were set upon by "about 50 men", who groped the women and beat up the men. But Nihal was undeterred, setting up a website to post her blogs detailing instances of harassment. "By July," she says, "the movement had begun."
Zaghaleel, which means "carrier pigeons" in Arabic, now comprises a growing number of women and men who form street patrols, effectively preventing assaults on women in public by talking to the assailants and drawing attention to their behaviour. Wearing hi-vis jackets, the male patrollers walk the platforms of the metro in a bid to protect female passengers travelling on the women-only carriages. They form a human chain around the women and have never resorted to violence. They don't need to, says Nihal, because "the more of us there are the more scared the harassers are to fight". Bassma, meaning imprint, because Nihal wants to "leave a mark wherever we go", now comprises a growing number of women and men who form street patrols, effectively preventing assaults on women in public by talking to the assailants and drawing attention to their behaviour. Wearing hi-vis jackets, the male patrollers walk the platforms of the metro in a bid to protect female passengers travelling on the women-only carriages. They form a human chain around the women and have never resorted to violence. They don't need to, says Nihal, because "the more of us there are the more scared the harassers are to fight".
Zaghaleel's presence during Eid was particularly welcome; 727 cases of sexual harassment were reported to the authorities over the religious holiday, which ended on 26 October. "Eid, when more women take part in public events, brings with it sexual harassment. It kills the spirit of celebration for many Muslim women," says Nihal. She estimates that 15 individual incidents of harassment were halted during October's Eid celebrations because of Zaghaleel's intervention. Of the 30-40 volunteers, most were men. Bassma's presence during Eid was particularly welcome; 727 cases of sexual harassment were reported to the authorities over the religious holiday, which ended on 26 October. "Eid, when more women take part in public events, brings with it sexual harassment. It kills the spirit of celebration for many Muslim women," says Nihal. She estimates that 15 individual incidents of harassment were halted during October's Eid celebrations because of Bassma's intervention. Of the 30-40 volunteers, most were men.
Zaghaleel's decision to seek out and intervene in actual incidents of harassment is radical even for established anti-street harassment activists. Bassma's decision to seek out and intervene in actual incidents of harassment is radical even for established anti-street harassment activists.
They have come into contact with aggression, violence and at least one incident involving a knife, and yet their numbers continue to grow. The Zaghaleel patrollers are typical of Egypt's younger generation, weaned on the importance of protest and keen to establish a democratic, progressive society after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. They have come into contact with aggression, violence and at least one incident involving a knife, and yet their numbers continue to grow. The Bassma patrollers are typical of Egypt's younger generation, weaned on the importance of protest and keen to establish a democratic, progressive society after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
"Harassment in Egypt has definitely become worse since 2011," Nihal told the Guardian, "because thugs can spread in the absence of state police. Women are targeted in protests to scare them off, so that fewer numbers will be prepared to go out and fight for their rights.""Harassment in Egypt has definitely become worse since 2011," Nihal told the Guardian, "because thugs can spread in the absence of state police. Women are targeted in protests to scare them off, so that fewer numbers will be prepared to go out and fight for their rights."
The Free Egyptians party recently called for constitutional changes to be made to end the "the phenomenon of sexual harassment" in their country, a call that has apparently been answered by the prime minster, Hesham Qandil, who said earlier this month that stricter sexual harassment penalties were being drafted. Currently there are three laws relating to verbal insults, indecent behaviour and sexual assault but rarely is an incident actually punished. "The laws are hard to enforce," says Omar El Gabry, one of a growing number of men to join Zaghaleel. "They require women to have enormous stamina and irrefutable evidence to prove a valid case." The Free Egyptians party recently called for constitutional changes to be made to end the "the phenomenon of sexual harassment" in their country, a call that has apparently been answered by the prime minster, Hesham Qandil, who said earlier this month that stricter sexual harassment penalties were being drafted. Currently there are three laws relating to verbal insults, indecent behaviour and sexual assault but rarely is an incident actually punished. "The laws are hard to enforce," says Omar El Gabry, one of a growing number of men to join Bassmal. "They require women to have enormous stamina and irrefutable evidence to prove a valid case."
The position of women in Egyptian society came to the fore during the revolution when so many of them joined the protest on Tahrir Square. During this time, a number of foreign reporters, including France 24's Sonia Dridi and CBS's Lara Logan, were sexually assaulted while covering events in Cairo, bringing international focus to the kind of sexual harassment and assault that more than 83% of the country's women have at some point experienced, according to the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights.The position of women in Egyptian society came to the fore during the revolution when so many of them joined the protest on Tahrir Square. During this time, a number of foreign reporters, including France 24's Sonia Dridi and CBS's Lara Logan, were sexually assaulted while covering events in Cairo, bringing international focus to the kind of sexual harassment and assault that more than 83% of the country's women have at some point experienced, according to the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights.
Professor Nadje Al-Ali, a gender specialist who has lived in Cairo, explains that just as crowd harassment has long been an issue in Egypt, so has the backlash against it. "Egypt has a long history of feminist activity, but it was always active under the radar to avoid a political crackdown. What the events of 2011 did was allow those people to come forward and take a public stand against street harassment." Though Al-Ali can still recall brutal incidents of crowd harassment from decades ago, she highlights extremely high levels of youth unemployment – 90% of those without work are under 30 – as contributing to "a crisis in masculinity that worsens the problem".Professor Nadje Al-Ali, a gender specialist who has lived in Cairo, explains that just as crowd harassment has long been an issue in Egypt, so has the backlash against it. "Egypt has a long history of feminist activity, but it was always active under the radar to avoid a political crackdown. What the events of 2011 did was allow those people to come forward and take a public stand against street harassment." Though Al-Ali can still recall brutal incidents of crowd harassment from decades ago, she highlights extremely high levels of youth unemployment – 90% of those without work are under 30 – as contributing to "a crisis in masculinity that worsens the problem".
Anti-street harassment movements in Egypt such as Harassmap, an outreach organisation that gathers information on specific incidents of sexual harassment, is evidence of a growing unwillingness to endure street harassment. The recent case of Eman Mostafa, a 16-year-old girl who was shot and killed by a harasser after she reproached him, so appalled the country that many Egyptians protested outside Assiut University, near where Mostafa lived.Anti-street harassment movements in Egypt such as Harassmap, an outreach organisation that gathers information on specific incidents of sexual harassment, is evidence of a growing unwillingness to endure street harassment. The recent case of Eman Mostafa, a 16-year-old girl who was shot and killed by a harasser after she reproached him, so appalled the country that many Egyptians protested outside Assiut University, near where Mostafa lived.
Omar El Gabry, a 23-year-old engineer from Cairo, was introduced to Nihal's work via Facebook. "I am aware of the psychological consequences of sexual harassment on women and I fear that those effects might cascade to the next generation, which will be responsible for building the future Egypt."Omar El Gabry, a 23-year-old engineer from Cairo, was introduced to Nihal's work via Facebook. "I am aware of the psychological consequences of sexual harassment on women and I fear that those effects might cascade to the next generation, which will be responsible for building the future Egypt."
Nihal, who wants to be an educator rather than a politician, says the patrols are only the beginning. "Patrolling is a painkiller that we use to help women walk on the streets safely. We want to expand into raising awareness in schools and universities. My ambition is to change how people view and act towards sexual harassment. I would like to see a society that genuinely understands the greatness they could achieve if only they would empower women."Nihal, who wants to be an educator rather than a politician, says the patrols are only the beginning. "Patrolling is a painkiller that we use to help women walk on the streets safely. We want to expand into raising awareness in schools and universities. My ambition is to change how people view and act towards sexual harassment. I would like to see a society that genuinely understands the greatness they could achieve if only they would empower women."
• In the original version of this article, Nihal's patrol group was called Zaghaleel. This is the name of the blog, which gave rise to the group, now called Bassma. A correction was made 6 November 2012 at 14.40