(AFP/File Khaled Desouki)
By Federica Ibrahim
Cairo Criminal Court postponed on Sunday five separate sexual harassment and assault cases until 1, 2 and 6 July.
The first harassment case will be postponed until 1 July, while three other sexual assault cases were delayed until 2 July in order to wait for the results of a forensic report and to compile witness accounts. A fifth harassment trial was moved to 2 July to appoint a behaviour specialist for the third defendant Karim Nasser, according to state-owned Al Ahram.
The first court hearing for 12 men being tried for sexual assault and harassment during celebrations for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s election and inauguration in Tahrir Square, began on the 18 June. According to the judge on the case, the hearing was held in a secret court due to the sensitivity of the case and to safeguard the victims’ privacy. The judge decided that all further case sessions will be carried out in a private deliberation room.
The 12 defendants, whose ages ranged from 16 to 49, were referred to an urgent criminal court on 14 June. The forensic report claimed that the victims were subjected to “indecent assault” and not rape on 8 June.
At least five cases of mob sexual harassment were documented from June 3-8 for Al-Sisi’s inauguration.
The sexual harassment law, approved by interim president Adly Mansour shortly before Al-Sisi was declared president, makes harassment a punishable crime. The offender could face a period of imprisonment ranging from six months to five years and a fine between EGP 3,000 and EGP 50,000, depending on the degree of harassment.
The law also includes verbal harassment, sexual gestures, and harassment through phones or other means of communication.
