Tackling harassment in Egypt: The movements driving change

According to a 2013 UN report studyNearly 99 percent of women in Egypt reported experiencing sexual harassment. Intimidation is one problem so deeply entrenched in society that it has become part of the daily lives of Egyptian women.

A 2014 study Through Haras Cardan initiative founded in 2010 that uses SMS reporting and community outreach to combat harassment found that 95 percent of 300 women surveyed in Greater Cairo faced similar problems.

Although no recent statistics exist on harassment in Egypt, the annual deployment of police officers in the country’s largest cities during holidays such as Eid and increased harassment fines in 2023 indicate that the problem is still current.

This also applies to an Arabic barometer from 2020 report reiterated that sexual harassment in public spaces remains widespread. Despite ongoing efforts to tackle the problem, harassment remains a persistent reality for many Egyptian women, as several viral incidents in recent years have made clear.

One such incident took place in Old Cairo in July 2024, when a woman jumped from a moving tuk-tuk, for fear of an attack by the driver. The driver was arrested on July 9, 2024 after she filed a report. Similarly, in February 2024, Habiba El-Shamaa, an Uber passengerjumped out of a moving car, fearing she would be kidnapped. The fall caused severe brain damage and she tragically died in March.

These cases show how harassment can quickly escalate into dangerous, even life-threatening situations.

While extreme incidents draw public attention, Egyptian women are still holding out daily intimidation, ranging from verbal abuse to unwanted advances.

Grassroots movements against sexual harassment

The rise of anti-harassment initiatives in Egypt began in 2012, when social movements sought to tackle the wave of harassment and assault during public gatherings. holiday like Eid.

Initiatives such as Basma (Print), Wither Taharosh (I saw harassment), and Did El Taharosh (Against intimidation) arose to intervene in crowded spaces such as shopping centers and cinemas, where offenders often acted with impunity, largely due to the lack of immediate consequences or law enforcement in public settings.

Around the same time, between 2012 and 2014, anti-harassment citizen groups liked Opantic (Operation Anti Sexual Harassment) and Tahrir Bodyguard were founded to combat the mass attacks and rapes that took place during the Tahrir Square protests between 2011 and 2014.

This wave of activism was largely fueled by the Egyptian revolution made new public platforms for women – and society as a whole – to openly discuss sexual harassment and violence.

A particularly gruesome case that attracted attention during this period was a case from 2014 gang rape at the Fairmont Hotel in Cairo, which only came back to public attention in 2020 when survivors spoke out.

More recently the Ahmed Bassam Zaki 2020 casein which more than fifty women accused him of harassment and abuse, sparked renewed outrage and inspired even more women to come forward with their stories. In December 2020, Zaki was convicted up to 11 years in prison. This case has sparked the Egyptian #MeToo movementwith women using social media to challenge harassment despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These initiatives actively empower women to report harassment while providing essential legal, psychological and social support.

Speak up

Set up in 2020, Speak up is an Egyptian feminist initiative committed to helping women who face harassment and violence. The platform provides legal guidance, protection against blackmail and informs women about the laws that protect them. One of its most significant achievements has been advocating for amendments criminalizing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Egypt.

Speak up also plays an important role in the highprofile cases, such as the case of Michael Fahmy and his wife, Sally Adel, who were accused of committing serial rape over a twenty-year period and using the church as a cover for their crimes. The prosecutor accused Fahmy, a doctor, and his wife of kidnapping and sexually abusing six minor girls under the guise of medical treatment. Speak up has received more than 70 testimonies from victims of Fahmy’s abuse and continues to play an important role in bringing the case to the Egyptian persecution, ensuring that the voices of the victims are heard.

Haras Card

Founded in 2010, Haras Card works on the belief that collective action can end sexual harassment. A text message is used system where victims and witnesses report incidents by sending a message to 6069, which are then verified and mapped to highlight hotspots of harassment.

Volunteers visit these areas to reach the community, increase awareness and reduce tolerance for harassment.

The initiative promotes individual and institutional accountability by encouraging intervention and creating role models for those who take a stand, with the aim of deterring future incidents.

Assault police

Launched in 2020, Assault police had a transformative impact on the anti-harassment movement.

It allowed women to break their silence, with many coming forward to share their stories, especially during the high-profile case of Ahmed Bassam Zaki, who was accused of harassing more than fifty women. The initiative broke the taboo surrounding sexual violence, making it easier for people to speak out. Although Assault police is no longer active, its long-term effects continue to shape the conversation about harassment in Egypt.

In addition, other initiatives have also emerged. UN women launched two major programs in 2013: ‘Consider Her Your Sister’, an anti-harassment campaign at Kafr El-Sheikh University, and ‘Start from Home’, which supports women-led small businesses at Zagazig University. Nonprofits such as Heya Masr Foundationfounded in 2014, offer self-defense and awareness programs, which provide women with tools to protect themselves. In addition, Speak Upwardswhich remains active, continues to provide crucial support to women facing harassment and violence, and provides a platform for legal assistance and guidance, just as Hi Masr and the initiatives launched by UN Women.

Together, these initiatives reflect a growing movement to raise awareness, support victims and create safer spaces for Egyptian women, driving long-term societal change.