Sexual harrassment.

[Scottishtourist]

It's made the press here.
The youtube film has gone viral.
Did anyone actually see it?

It's pretty horrific,to say the least!A young girl stripped naked,battered and bleeding,the object of a brutal sexual assault in Tahrir Square.
Even the UK press and television is showing Sisi's visit to her.He apologises.He promises her a trip to Mecca at the state's expense!Well,what a philanthropic gesture!BIG DEAL!!!
Wonder what'll happen there?Once again she'll be subjected to crowds.Once again she may just be the victim of ANOTHER assault.Will that gesture really be a "comfort"to her?Or will it merely give her the opportunity to "purify"herself and salve a nation's conscience?
99% of women in Egypt claim they've been victim of sexual harrassment.That's one helluva statistic!
It's no wonder that Egypt is trying to get the film clip "pulled"from youtube!And,that's obviously just the one everyone has seen.
So,what's wrong with these men who do this?
Is this the fault once again of the tourists who have filled Egypt with their immoral ways and "slutty"dress sense?They've sent them into some sort of sexual frenzy?
Do these men now have no other outlet for their aggression,lust and depravity,and thus resort to raping,abusing and assaulting their own women?

Or are they just "beasts?"Cos,no matter how you dress it up..the tourists ain't responsible for this very sad and very real statistic..no matter their "loose"morals and behaviour,as alleged by some!

I'd personally tell Sisi to shove his roses where the sun don't shine!!
Cos,until something more concrete is done about this,the only people making money in Egypt will be the florists!

99%.....

[LovelyLadyLux]

Haven't seen the UTube video, haven't heard anything about this but will say that as going to Mecca (Haj) is one of the five pillars of Islam so am inclined to think that Sisi giving her this trip could be something that would be of extreme importance to her. Am not commenting that this should mitigate or be the cure for rape but that trip "on the State" could be highly valued.

[Dusak]

I haven't seen the vid, nor do I intend to go looking for it. I personally think the posting of such things nearly as disgusting as the actual attack. This woman and her family have and are going through enough already without the terrible deed being highlighted for all the world to see-for ever. Sic.

[carrie]

I too have heard nor seen anything about this, I listen to the BBC radio all the time and have heard no mention of it.
Wouldn't go looking for it on U Tube, must have been a terrible experience for the girl without everyone all and sundry viewing it. And if I were the Egyptian Authorities I would want it pulled, not to deny it happened but to protect the girl and her family.
She must be Muslima I just hope that her visit to the Haj does help her in some way.

[dsaxelby]

I have seen it. You hear of these attacks on women usually when it ends with her death. The video is pretty graphic but what you see is her rescue by a few policemen and citizens, and quite frankly she is lucky to be alive. I understand that her rescuers have been acknowledged and some of the perpetrators arrested. Which is a different outcome to the usual stories.

[Scottishtourist]

I haven't seen the vid, nor do I intend to go looking for it. I personally think the posting of such things nearly as disgusting as the actual attack. This woman and her family have and are going through enough already without the terrible deed being highlighted for all the world to see-for ever. Sic.

I think it was posted to highlight that this is a very REAL situation and danger for women in Egypt.
I don't think it's "disgusting"to bring this to the world's attention.
As dsaxelby says..this girl survived.How many don't?
This isn't some home made "porno"for titillation!This is a brutal attack on a young girl!
And the 99% statistic indicates it's happening on a widespread and probably daily basis in Egypt.
Is this the REALITY in Egypt that is deemed too horrific for tourists/visitors to see?
Too horrific for the society to admit?

And before others come wading in and throwing statistics around from other countries..remember it's Egypt we're discussing!
How many other such "incidents" there are just "swept under the carpet?"

[carrie]

I have no doubt that this incident should be widely acknowledged ST and the matter of sexual harrassment and worse is being adressed by the Government. I don't think anyone would try to say that these things don't happen here in Egypt and I couldn't care less about the statistics, to say that it doesn't happen here as often as say in Pakistan, is just insulting the victim. That it happens anywhere, even if only ONCE is cause for concern.
But if it where my daughter being sexually assaulted I would not like video of it being shown on U tube and I doubt very much if the girl involved or her family have been consulted before it was shown. To my mind it is like being raped over and over again.
My deepest sympathy go out to her and her family.

[Dusak]

I'm not saying sweep it under the carpet and pretend that it did not happen, my sense of disgust is due to the fact that it is supposed to show her blooded naked body, so presumably it shows her face which could impact on her future in the marriage stakes even if there was no penetration.

[Scottishtourist]

I'm not saying sweep it under the carpet and pretend that it did not happen, my sense of disgust is due to the fact that it is supposed to show her blooded naked body, so presumably it shows her face which could impact on her future in the marriage stakes even if there was no penetration.

Her face isn't shown.It's even blurred out in the photos of Sisi visiting her.But it quite clearly is a naked,bloodied, female body.
Her future in the marriage stakes??
Is that the main concern here?
She's "damaged"goods now,therefore no man will want her?
Good God..this woman should be RESPECTED,after all she's been subjected to!
I assume she's Muslim.And I further assume this is a serious violation of her body,her self-confidence,and her self-esteem!
Christ,if there is a God,and these men believe in Him and His teachings..then this woman should be highly prized!
Sorry..but it's a helluva high price she's paid..for a trip to Mecca and a bunch of roses!

[carrie]

ST I am sorry to say that she is now "damaged goods" in that she is no longer a "girl" and like it or not that is the case here if she has been raped.
I am not condoning in any way shape or form what these ( I was going to say animals but that would be an insult to the animal kingdom) monsters have done to her and they deserve slow casration and worse. Yet I think if it was MY daughter it had happened to would I want her ordeal displayed for all to see. even if her faced was obscured. Never. Let me also say that Pres El Sisi would never have been allowed near her with his offers of roses, visits to the Haj or anything else.

[Scottishtourist]

P.s...I note that some of the easily "offended"have been posting tonight.
The ones who proclaim their "offence"by proxy!
Well,can I just say that for once I am VERY offended!
I'm offended that they have no comment to make on this.
I'm offended that they do not find these statistics "offensive."
And,I'm offended that they still find more beauty in "colourful"prose..and ignore the brutal realities in life...cos that's "offensive"to their delicate dispositions!

So..I will gladly take offence on behalf of 99% of Egyptian women..and personally share their outrage!

[Brian Yare]

Where do you get 99% from, or are you just guessing?

[Scottishtourist]

It's documented Brian.UN survey..been reported in Egyptian newspapers as well as others.
Go "google"it.It ain't THAT difficult to find!
Or are all these Egyptian women over-reacting to some harmless "flirtation?"
Believe me..a woman knows when a man is flirting..or crossing boundaries!
Cussing at her is unacceptable,leering at her is unacceptable,touching her is unacceptable,assaulting her is unacceptable,raping her is UNACCEPTABLE!

I'm waiting on feedback here,the usual..if you don't like it,don't come!Go and spend your money somewhere else!
THIS is Egypt...and you're just a tourist..so it don't concern you!

It may not concern some..but it horrifies and upsets ME!

[BENNU]

It is probably my English, but I did not know that this was what you call harassment. My PC died two weeks ago and I have three pages of unread posts, Scottishtourist. Not until yesterday did I think of cutting out the chip from my USB SIM and use it in my iPhone which I otherwise only use in DK and with Wifi, OK?

I have spent my youth fighting for the rights of victims of rape after having my own life ruined at the age of fourteen by two rapists, finding myself on the front page of every newspaper and my country's only TV station as well as everybody's lips during times of monopoly mainly because of the way I looked. I have not been able to have a healthy relation with a man, though I have had more suitors than any other woman that I know and could have made a perfect wife. These are some of the wounds for which in my own way, I have found some healing during my nine years here in Egypt. That is why I refuse to settle for anything less than the real thing now and accept to live without a man under the circumstances that Upper Egypt has to offer, because this is where I want to be.

When you said that all you are looking for is a relaxing holiday and Luxor does not offer you that, my simple advice was to look somewhere else. I have talked in public about rape and control of women but never had a chance to get any help myself - only seen as a sensation. It is not only the beauty of life that I have to keep inside because I am not taken seriously. I write elsewhere in my own language about life of women, but not in a sensational way.

I do not watch TV when I am in Egypt but I certainly know realities of life.

[Glyphdoctor]

Bennu, thank you for that post. It's a good reminder for us all. It's one thing to be outraged on behalf of others over something we may have never experienced ourselves, but to have walked in someone's shoes and use that bad experience to help others to never have to walk in those same shoes is a whole other level that really deserves admiration.

[Dusak]

ST, the topic of how women and young girls are routinely abused in this country has been discussed many a time and no one has ever shown a negative response. This kind of action is unwarranted and unwanted, actions instigated by the few that view the female form as fair game. Their are millions of males here that do not condone these horrendous attacks on women but in the grand schema of things are powerless to act within the law, acting outside the law can only exacerbate the problem, creating new family feuds creating more victims. The Government has made the first positive move towards addressing this wide based problem, but it will take time to implement it before we begin to see a positive change for the better. It has little to do in choosing Egypt as a holiday destination, or any where else for that matter as its a problem that is endemic in every corner of the world, even in Scotland.

[Chocolate Eclair]

In Scotland its called Ethnic Cleansing, ask the folk in the Highlands. Sassanachs (Scottish People that live below Perth) have never maybe experienced this before.

[carrie]

Bennu thank you for your reply but I feel very sorry that you felt you had to defend yourself in this way. I don't see any reason why anyone should be expected to respond to any post if they don't wish to what ever the subject of the post.
I am sure that everyone who reads or posts on here utterly deplores the events being discussed, finds it totally unacceptable, horrible what ever form of words you use. But surely it is their right to post on the subject or not, no one knows the truth of anyone elses life.
I wish I had your courage Bennu I'm afraid rightly or wrongly I would never want to discuss such an experience with anyone had it ever happened to me.
You keep seeing the pink side of life Bennu, dance on the roof.

[BENNU]

But surely it is their right to post on the subject or not, no one knows the truth of anyone elses life.
I wish I had your courage Bennu I'm afraid rightly or wrongly I would never want to discuss such an experience with anyone had it ever happened to me.

Try refusing to give an interview to a tabloid if your young face would look good on the front page and blown up opposite the nude girl on page nine.

They hired a female psychiatrist who called my unlisted number, mentioned my full name and address and informed me that they would write anything they wanted unless I accepted to be interviewed by her. It turned out a great article after six hours, at least my honest opinion was considered worth the ink. Try staying anonymous in a country of five million people.

It is about power manifestation and control, not about sex. This was news at that time and they listened, before internet. As Glyphdoctor says, it is a different level. I have had to deal with this on my own as a child with no one to confide in at all, am I supposed to stay bitter and aggressive forever? What good would that do women of the world?

I hope that the last one percent of women in Egypt, not represented by Scottishtourist, does not feel offended by me.

[HEPZIBAH]

Hmm...I have refrained from joining in this thread so far. My restraint is not because I am not horrified that yet another woman has been raped in Egypt and others sexually assaulted (incidentally the day after or within days of the latest decree about how such perpetrators were to be dealt with by, I think, the outgoing acting President) but because I felt the tone of the original post was in it's own way set to cause further sensationalism, a form of voyeurism, and argument. I also found that some of the 'facts' as reported here were not the ones that I had read in the news clips that I read.

I'm also finding the regular taunts from some people to push for a response tiring, boring and childish.

Why am I responding now? Because I do believe that whilst sexual harassment is wrong it is open to some interpretation but there can be no misinterpretation of rape - it is not acceptable in any way, shape or form be it committed to woman, man or child; single or married; by a stranger/s, someone known or even marriage partner; in private or in a public situation. Having supported a number of rape victims over the years I know this may be a short lived thrill for the perpetrator but it is lifetime sentence to the victim - regardless of their culture.