Is this Egypts #MeToo moment?

Published: Oct. 23, 2020, 4 p.m.

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Egypt is currently in the midst of a growing movement calling out the culture of sexual assault that\\u2019s rife in the country. A UN study showed 99.3% of Egyptian women have experienced sexual harassment or violence, and although women\\u2019s rights activists have been campaigning for years, there continues to be victim blaming surrounding women and a lack of prosecutions. However, a recent high profile case of one man who allegedly sexually assaulted and blackmailed several women was brought to the public\\u2019s attention due to an Instagram account called Assault Police which shared victim\\u2019s testimonies. It\\u2019s encouraged more women to speak out about their own experiences. And significantly, the religious authority, the Al Azhar Mosque published guidelines against assault, specifically stating what women wear is not an excuse. \\n \\nSalma El-Wardany, a UK based Muslim writer and poet, was born in Egypt and wants to uncover what impact this largely online movement is having. Will it create a lasting change in Egyptian society and result in prosecutions? \\nSalma will talk to the key women fighting for change, and the male allies using their platform to speak out. She\\u2019ll hear from Nadeen Ashraf, the young woman behind Assault Police, and Sabah Khodir who\\u2019s offering practical support and guidance for victims. Plus she\\u2019ll speak to Omar Samra a well-known adventurer who\\u2019s encouraging men to take responsibility for their actions. She\\u2019ll hear from Human Rights Watch about their concerns over women\\u2019s rights in the country, and she\\u2019ll speak to Egyptian American journalist Mona Eltahawy about her hopes for a feminist revolution.

Producer: Miriam Williamson

(Picture: Egyptian women hold signs during a protest against sexual harassment in Cairo, Egypt, June 2014 / Credit: Ahmed Ismail/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

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