A Cairo court on Thursday sentenced to three years in prison an employee at the Egyptian capital’s international airport for taking photos of a woman without her consent for his own sexual gratification.
The man, who was convicted of breaching the woman’s privacy, was also fined 20,000 pounds ($l,276).
The man's case was referred to a misdemeanor court in Cairo’s Heliopolis district on Wednesday after the outrage caused by an emotional video posted by the woman, Egyptian writer and blogger Basma "Bee" Bishay, describing her ordeal.
The video has been viewed more than 2 million times.
Similar photographs of other female travellers were found on the man’s mobile phone, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Ms Bishay, 28, had returned to Cairo from Beirut on Monday with her husband and another couple when her friend noticed the man taking pictures of her back.
When Ms Bishay confronted the man, he denied taking photos and refused to show her his phone.
She took him to airport security but became frustrated when the men inside the room were unhelpful, and started passing around the phone to see the pictures, Ms Bishay said in the video.
The blogger recorded a tearful video on Facebook and Instagram, saying it was the "hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life”.
She said a “pervert” had taken a picture of her “back” and pleaded with people to share the post and advise her on what to do.
Ms Bishay accused officers of not doing their job and not protecting her, but hours later posted another video saying the men in the room were neither police officers nor airport security.
The real police officers intervened and interrogated the man before arresting him, she said.
She said she was grateful for their help.
“I just want to say I am really sorry for what I said earlier,” Ms Bishay said.
Read More
Egypt halts ‘Fairmont Incident’ investigation, releases all detained defendants
From Tahrir Bodyguard to Assault Police: how social media is fighting sexual predators in Egypt
Ms Bishay posted a third video on Tuesday, praising the thorough investigation after spending eight hours at public prosecution.
She thanked her social media followers.
“I have never felt more victorious, and it is all because of you. I cannot thank every single one of you enough. I have no words."
Ms Bishay also praised the feminist movement "that has left no girl without support", referring to Egypt’s #MeToo lobby that began last summer with social media accounts exposing sexual predators.
The airport worker said he took pictures of Ms Bishay as part of his duties but his job did not permit him to take any photos, prosecutors said.
He also said he did not know how the photos of other women got on his phone.
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%20turbo%204-cyl%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E298hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E452Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETowing%20capacity%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.4-tonne%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPayload%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4WD%20%E2%80%93%20776kg%3B%20Rear-wheel%20drive%20819kg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrice%3A%20Dh138%2C945%20(XLT)%20Dh193%2C095%20(Wildtrak)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDelivery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20August%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
