[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Index on Censorship condemns the sentence handed down to Amal Fathy – an Egyptian woman who made a video about her experience of sexual harassment.
Fathy, an actor and former activist, was given a suspended sentence of two years in prison and fined on charges of “spreading false news” after uploading a video to her Facebook account describing how she was sexually harassed during a visit to her bank.
Two days after the post, Egyptian security forces raided her home and arrested Fathy along with her husband and young son.
Fathy, whose husband Mohamed Lotfy is co-founder of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), faces a second trial in which she is accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation.
“This sends a terrifying message to young women in Egypt: speak about abuse and you’ll be the one imprisoned, not your abuser,” said Index on Censorship chief executive Jodie Ginsberg. “Index, along with international human rights lawyers Doughty Street Chambers and ECRF – the 2018 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards fellow for campaigning – have lodged complaints about Amal Fathy’s treatment with the UN rapporteurs on freedom of expression and human rights defenders, as well as the UN working group on arbitrary detention.”[/vc_column_text][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”12″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1538397460495-cbacd412-d443-9″ taxonomies=”147, 25926, 24135″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
