Blog 11: Harassers of women in Cairo

This article was written by Kareem Fahim and published in the New York Times on November 5^th 2012. The article details the extreme case of harassment to women that is present in Cairo, Egypt. For a long time the streets of Cairo have been very dangerous for women as they get grabbed, threatened, and violated constantly.  This harassment is not done in the dark or behind closed doors it is often done out in the public yet it is overlooked by the police. The article explains that the police often look the other way as these harassments take place. However groups are emerging with the goal and purpose to protect women from these injustices. A group of activists chased down a young man in Tahrir Square that was a known harasser. The activists grabbed the young man threw him down and spray-painted on his back “I’m a harasser”. Unfortunately however after the attack the violation of women did not cease.  Following the attack female protesters were stripped and threatened and other activists were subjected to what are called “virginity tests”. If anything the violence got worse.

            I find it so shocking that the police in Cairo fully know about this mass violence on women and witness it yet do nothing. If one cannot trust that the police are doing everything they can to protect you then it is almost impossible to respect them. It is definitely a grave injustice that the women in Cairo cannot walk around the streets at any given time and feel safe. It is also a grave injustice that the police aren’t doing what they can to protect everyone but only somewhat doing their job when they see fit. Additionally it is a shame that the government of the area is not holding these thugs accountable for their actions. It is impossible for the women and activists to stop this injustice without the help of the government and police.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/world/middleeast/egyptian-vigilantes-crack-down-on-abuse-of-women.html