The victim was forced to hide in a shop to escape here harassers but the shops owner asked her to leave, fearing damage to his property.
Rabat – Egyptian authorities reportedly arrested 17 people of all ages after a large group of Egyptian men sexually harassed a Moroccan woman in a public place on new year’s eve. The incident was documented in a video that went viral on social media and in Egyptian news outlets
The woman, who investigating officers believe to be Moroccan, was eventually rescued by a smaller group of men who helped her escape in a car. The incident took place in Al Mansoura, Egypt.
Morocco World News contacted the Egyptian embassy in Morocco, which confirmed the arrests.
The embassy, however, said that it does not have any details about the identity of the woman and could not confirm whether she is a Moroccan.
“The woman did not file a complaint about the harassment,” the embassy told MWN.
The embassy had no further information about the incident.
ERM News reported on January 2 that the victim holds Moroccan nationality.
MWN also contacted the Moroccan embassy in Egypt. At the time of writing, the embassy has not responded to requests for comment on the incident or the victim’s nationality.
MWN also contacted the Moroccan embassy in Egypt. At the time of writing, the embassy has not responded to requests for comment on the incident or the victim’s nationality.
Egyptian Arabic-speaking news outlet Al Masry Al Youm revealed more details, quoting security officials in charge of the case.
The news outlet reported that the woman is a 20-year old student who lives in Al Mansoura. The woman was accompanied by a female friend, also 20-years old.
Read Also: Video: Mass of Egyptian Men Harasses Moroccan Woman at New Year Celebrations
When they were walking in the street a group of men started harassing them publicly and taking photos of them, urging witnesses to intervene.
The collision resulted in a fight, only intensifying the situation for the victim, the Egyptian news outlet reported.
A police station in the region said that they received no complaints of harassment on that night.
The directorate then resorted to surveillance cameras in the region, finding clear evidence that the incident took place.
Eventually, authorities identified some of the suspects and arrested 17 individuals. The police also investigated about 20 individuals who work in shops across the region.
During the incident, the woman tried to hide in a shop in the region. The owner, however, forced her to leave due to the crowds that surrounded the shop.
“When the woman was out [of the shop], she tried to stop a taxi to get out from the neighborhood, but some of the suspects stopped her and started harassing her and pushing others towards her,” a witness has said.
The woman’s friend ran away and entered a building to protect herself.
A group of men intervened to rescue the woman and helped her to get in a car to escape her harassers.
Internet users across the Arab world and beyond watched the video with anger. The incident also divided public opinion, with some expressing full solidarity, while others said that her way of dressing “provoked men.”
Soraya Bahgat, advocate for women, has written several comments condemning the act and the reactions to it.
Twitter now is swept with the hashtag “MansouraGirl.”
“MansouraGirl is trending & exposing a lot of misogyny, sexism and sick mentality that will continue to subject Egyptian women to sexual violence. Many men – and women – are stating that her outfit was inappropriate & could have well provoked the men,” Bahgat said.
Updates
The Egyptian embassy in Morocco confirmed to Morocco World News today, January 3, that the victim of the mass sexual harassment incident inAl Mansoura, Egypt on new year’s was not Moroccan.
“Security services in Egypt confirmed to us that the woman was not a Moroccan national,” the Egyptian embassy told MWN.
The embassy did not confirm whether the woman was an Egyptian national.
Several local and international news outlets reported that the woman was of Moroccan nationality after the video went viral on social media.
The video caused uproar across the Arab world, documenting the moment when a horde of Egyptian men sexually harassed a young woman.
