Via Youm 7
Gender-based violence and crimes target Egyptian women and girls disproportionately. Statistically, approximately 9 out of 10 women have experienced sexual harassment and other forms of violence due to their gender.
Even worse, women are also much more likely than men to be killed by their intimate partners, family members, or even strangers. The Mansoura incident shattered our hearts and made us remember how scary Egyptian society can be, as it has many victim blamers and people who will do their best to excuse harassers, rapists, and even murderers.
*Warning: This article may be triggering and provoking for some people.*
The story of Nayera Ashraf
Leaving her college after an exam, Nayera Ashraf gets harassed by a man who she had supposedly rejected after he proposed to her. This man doesn’t take that rejection well and stabs her, killing her in the middle of the street.
College security cameras caught the murder as it unfolded, and there were several eyewitnesses, but that didn’t deter the murderer.
Via Siasat
How did a significant chunk of Egyptian society react to the incident?
Although many condemned the murder and rightfully protested what happened in broad daylight to Nayera, it was agonising to see some misogynistic people blaming the victim. They blamed her for not being properly dressed, for going to college in the first place, and even for saying no to a man.
How can someone find out about such a brutal incident and have that be their first reaction? Did patriarchal society really succeed in ridding everyone of their humanity in this manner? There is never an excuse to take someone’s life, and people need to respect the victim as well as her family.
Unfortunately, there is all kinds of violence and discrimination against women in Egypt. The death of Nayera Ashraf is solely because she was a woman, and we all know it wouldn’t have been the same if she were a man! No one would have said the culprit must be suffering from a mental illness or was on drugs to commit such a crime.
Via Mojaz News
How should people address this incident?
First of all, taking pictures and videos of a dead girl lying on the sidewalk is the worst thing anyone could have ever done in this situation. Sharing it on social media for rich interactions is even more sick, and we genuinely have no idea how some people have stooped that low!
Secondly, we should wish Nayera’s family solace and hope that she gets the justice she deserves. We also hope that all Egyptian women who have suffered the same fate get justice as well, while also hoping that all forms of gender-based violence are eradicated. Right now, we don’t need excuses—we need action.
