Sexual harassment is a feature of daily life for women in Cairo. The Egyptian capital is the most dangerous city in the world for women and, according to a 2013 study from the UN, sexual harassment affects 99% of Egyptian women. However, they’re fighting back. In recent years, there has been an increase in social media and feminist initiatives targeting men – both public figures and ordinary citizens – who sexually harass women.
A prominent example, which attracted widespread media attention, is top Egyptian footballer Amr Warda. In 2019, he was accused of sexual harassment by a Mexican model and others, and disqualifed from playing in that year’s African Cup of Nations. Warda apologised for the incident, but clarified in a television interview last December that he only made the apology in order to be able to continue playing.
A few days after the interview, a young Greek woman alleged on Instagram that he had harassed her too.
