This project is a contribution to the extension #metoo movement that is happening right now in Egypt. As an Egyptian who was born and raised there, I have had my fair share of sexual harassment in various ways which is enough reason to say something too! I believe it will never change until all of us direct our attention to the issue and fight for our dignity. It is incredibly unsafe to just exist as a woman in Egypt, according to UN study 99% of Egyptian women have been sexually assaulted.
It happens within the family more than from strangers, it happens in public transportations, and in the streets in daylight. When I used to live there, I knew how verbal sexual assaults were something that we just have to live with, in public transportations, by taxi drivers, in malls, and yes even on the university campus. What was shocking was the reaction of some family members/friends when you tell such stories, which is usually blaming women for what they wear, or where they walked, and shaming them to keep these stories to themselves because of “what would people think?”.
We all know clothing does not stop those sociopaths from doing what they feel they have the right to do. All women in Egypt are subjects to these disgusting acts wherever they are and whatever they wear. Women in Abayas (the traditional Muslim dress for women) still get sexually harassed. A child in her pajamas still gets molested. They always find a reason to blame women for what happens to them.
Women are shamed if they seek divorce, they are encouraged to bear their unbearable husbands because of the pressure of society or simply because they have kids, and they better have an abusive father/husband than not having one. But who we blame when sexual assault/rape/molestation happens within a family? From a father or a cousin, which happens a lot! Who do we blame when the family knows what happened and they don’t hold anybody accountable for it, for fearing shame? It’s easier to act as if nothing happens, preach to forgive, and it goes without saying; screw this victim and her mental health for the rest of her life. Who do we blame when men expose themselves in the streets or next to you in a public transportation seat in bright daylight when you’re minding your own business? Who do we blame when they cover for the sons of powerful families when they gang rape girls and film them (look up the Fairmount hotel case in Cairo), and jail the girls who came out as witnesses? Who do we blame for an ex-boyfriend who blackmails and abuses his ex-girlfriend? I AM SURE AS HELL WOMEN ARE NOT TO BLAME!
August 22nd,2020
First thing in the morning
Facebook post
Thirteen images of different women from different regions who were killed by a family member. I couldn’t be sure of the information, so I didn’t want to write it down since there was no source available. But what triggered me was that six out of those thirteen were rape cases from family members. Some murders were ordered by the victim's mom because of blackmailing, one was raped by her father. Another was killed by her father, brothers, brother in law. Another was rapped by a strange man by order from her husband and the reason is that he wants to divorce her without paying anything, it ended up with the guy killing her. Another was killed by her Christian father because she wanted to be a Muslim, another was shot ninety times by her brother because she was raped by a Turkish soldier and was filmed. Another her father thought that he saw his daughter in a sex tape, so she was forced to confess then got killed. Another was killed by her cousin when she threatens to tell about him raping her, so was cut into pieces and thrown in the sea. None of those men got what they deserved based on the post, they are all going out and about comfortably.
With this piece I am inviting every mother/mother to be to pay attention to her son/s values and beliefs. Teach them how to respectfully treat their wives and daughters, teach them that morality is what's important. Teach them that their wives aren't their as maids, they should be respected and supported. Teach them that their wives careers' is as important as theirs!
Teach them morality!!
Listen, discuss, and communicate!
With the last piece I would like to invite everyone to always take a pause to think things through, to reevaluated what they grew up hearing and doing. To question the logic behind every action and understand that morality is what we should consider before acting, stop judging while standing behind a religious shield. To respect one another and mind our own business, and to raise our kids on respect and humanity.
