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CAIRO – Woman sentenced in Egypt to two years in prison for spreading false news after posting a video
decrying his experience of sexual harassment in the country.
The conviction of actress Amal Fathy comes as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi gave free rein to the country's police and judicial system to repress women who complain of sexual assault and harassment and women's groups activists. The crackdown on women and women's organizations is part of an attack on civil society, dissidents and anyone perceived as tarnishing the image of the country.
Ms. Fathy was arrested during a raid on her home in May after posting a video on her personal Facebook page where she spoke about her experience of sexual harassment at a Cairo bank.
The Maadi Criminal Court in Cairo sentenced Ms. Fathy to one year in prison for publishing what she called "false news" with the intention of overthrowing the Egyptian regime and a second year of detention of "material". indecent". reference to the video itself. She was also fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about $ 560).
"For me, it's an authorization for harassers to freely harass women," said Mohamed Lotfy, Ms. Fathy's husband.
"The message to women or victims of harassment is" Shut your mouth or we will imprison you, "said Lotfy, who works as a human rights activist, speaking outside the courthouse. .
Ms. Fathy should appeal her sentence.
A second woman, a Lebanese tourist named Mona Mazbouh, was arrested in June after claiming sexual harassment during a visit to Egypt. In July, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for spreading rumors that could "undermine society" and defame religion. She was released after this sentence was rescinded earlier in September.
The arrests contributed to what Egyptian women described as a crippling effect on public complaints of sexual harassment.
Women's rights advocates and specialists working with victims of sexual trauma claim to have been confronted with detention and interrogations of security forces about their work.
President Sisi has promised to put an end to sexual assault after the attack of a woman by a crowd of men celebrating his inauguration in 2014. State institutions have denounced the harassment many Egyptian women feel uncomfortable reporting reports of aggression to men.
