EGYPT: An Egyptian court sentences seven men to life imprisonment on Wednesday (July 16) for sexually harassing and attacking women during rallies and celebrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square

Record ID: 335825

  • Title: EGYPT: An Egyptian court sentences seven men to life imprisonment on Wednesday (July 16) for sexually harassing and attacking women during rallies and celebrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square
  • Date: 16th July 2014
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JULY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COURT EXTERIOR JOURNALISTS WAIT FOR VERDICT INSIDE COURTROOM VARIOUS OF JUDGE READING VERDICT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN COURT, JUDGE MOHAMED AL FEKKI, SAYING: "(The defendants will be sentenced to) life imprisonment and police surveillance for five years following their sentences." JOURNALISTS TAKE PICTURES OF DEFEN
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZQBWY2GDBH0SNY8OW0R143IU
  • Story Text: Seven Egyptian men were jailed for life on Wednesday (July 16) for attacking and sexually harassing women during rallies and celebrations in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
    The sentences were the longest since the president vowed to crack down on sexual assaults in June and the government criminalised sexual harassment, amid widespread criticism from activists and lawyers on its record on tackling such abuse.
    Five men were jailed for life for attacking and harassing women during celebrations of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's inauguration in June.

    "(The defendants will be sentenced to) life imprisonment and police surveillance for five years following their sentences," Judge Mohamed Al Fekki read out the verdicts as crowds let out loud cheers.
    Another defendant, aged 16, was jailed for 20 years and a 19-year-old was given two 20-year jail terms, though it was not immediately clear if they would run at the same time. All seven were convicted of sexual harassment, under the new law, and of attempted rape, attempted murder and torture.
    One of the five men along with two other men were also sentenced to life on separate charges of attacking a woman as she celebrated the anniversary of the 2011 revolt that toppled autocratic president Hosni Mubarak.
    A woman involved in one of the cases cried in relief in the courtroom after the verdicts were announced.
    Nashaat Agha, a lawyer for one of the victims, said the verdict was "pure justice".
    The defendants in both cases - aged 16-49 - stood in a cage in the courtroom and shouted "injustice" after the verdicts were read out. Their relatives attacked journalists.
    Attorney Mahmoud Samir explained that defendants who received the life sentence more than once will only have to serve one of the sentences, and that the verdicts are not final and will still be appealed before the Cassation Court.

    "We will review them, but we won't wait for that, because it's not a final verdict. We will appeal before the Cassation Court and I think this verdict must be annulled by the Cassation Court," Samir added.
    Sisi ordered the interior minister to combat sexual harassment after women were attacked as thousands gathered in the streets during his inauguration celebrations.
    A video was posted on YouTube showing a naked woman with injuries on her hip being dragged through a crowd towards an ambulance. It triggered a public outcry and encouraged more victims to come forward.
    Sexual assault was rampant at demonstrations during and after the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and has been regularly reported at other large gatherings in Egypt.
    Sexual harassment, high rates of female genital cutting and a surge in violence after the Arab Spring uprisings have made Egypt the worst country in the Arab world to be a woman, a Thomson Reuters Foundation survey showed late last year.
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