Egyptian filmmaker fined 70,000 EGP after colluding with sexual assault victim – Middle East Monitor

Egyptian filmmaker and artist Salma El-Tarzi has been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in civil compensation after collaborating with victims of sexual assault and harassment. .

حكم ى مخرجة س طرزي درجة درجة ى ٥٠ ف ف مة جنيه ف ف ف تع في قضية قضية قضية من من ٦ ٦. thank you#song

— Mahienor El Masry Mahienor Al Mahienor (@MahienourE) November 27, 2022

Salma spoke out in support of six women who accused film director Islam El-Azazi of sexual assault, rape and harassment, in return for which she wrote defamatory and privacy-invading posts and intentionally was accused of harassment.

In total, the fines equate to approximately $2,845.

The ruling came despite a Cairo court certifying journalist and author Rasha Azab in April. Not guilty of defamation, defamation and willfully sabotaging El-Azazai After she came to these women’s defense as well.

Lasha, a prominent advocate for women’s rights, tweeted in solidarity with women, in response El Azazai filed a complaint against her and the case was taken to court.

The Egyptian government has been accused in recent years of prosecuting women, including victims of sexual abuse, and dissuading them from speaking out.

read: Man dies in Egyptian prison, total of 5 dead in custody since November

By contrast, authorities rarely investigate allegations against perpetrators, including in this case against Islam El-Azazai.

Rather than protecting women who are harassed and abused by Islam el-Azazi or who are in solidarity with them, the courts chose to protect the offenders. It is different from the legal system that protects. thank you #song pic.twitter.com/E3d20QdadJ

— Mai El Sadany (@maitelsadany) November 27, 2022

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch published testimony of female refugees in Egypt who were raped and sexually assaulted. It was not protected by the authorities.

Of the women the Human Rights Observatory spoke to, three said the police refused to document the attacks, three said they were too scared to go to the police, and one said she was sexually harassed by the police she spoke to. .

The woman was injured in the aftermath of the attack but has not been referred to medical services.

Last week, Equality Now, a women’s rights NGO, released a policy brief on how insufficient justice for women around the world, including in Egypt, is increasing violence against women.

For example, women who are victims of domestic violence are not protected in Egypt because domestic violence and marital rape are not explicitly criminalized under Egyptian law.