Egypt’s National Women Council hails decision to cancel pretrial detention for minor

CAIRO – 10 June 2020: Egyptian state’s National Council for Women (NCW) has thanked the top prosecutor for replacing pretrial detention for a TikTok influencer who is accused of “inciting immorality” with house arrest in a center hosting and securing battered women.

Menna Abdel Aziz, a 17-year old girl who has been detained along with six others, had appeared in a video accusing another TikTok influencer of raping and filming her, with the help of his friends. This makes Abdel Aziz an alleged rape victim, but she also faces accusations of “inciting immorality,” due to publishing footage that is deemed inappropriate, according to earlier investigations.

Abdel Aziz has accepted the alternative penalty issued by the country’s Attorney General, Hamada El Sawi, in this center as she does not have a certain residence.

In this regard, Head of the NCW Maya Morsy has praised the General Prosecution’s role in protecting human rights and securing the dignity of citizens, in accordance with the Constitution, human rights resolutions and regional and international treaties.

Morsy also hailed the General Prosecution’s statement on the issue for referring to the significant role that parents should play in protecting their children from bad friends.

The General Prosecution said it has tasked a social program within the Social Solidarity Ministry with researching the social and psychological condition of Abdel Aziz and introduce recommendations to the Prosecution based on this research.

The Prosecution said it found that Abdel Aziz has suffered from emotional and psychological disorders, as a result of being subjected to “cruel” social crises since she was young, which affected her behavior. In addition, she has suffered a psychological shock as a result of being assaulted in the case that is currently investigated.

The decision to keep Abdel Aziz in this center aims at rehabilitating her psychologically, socially and economically, in order for her to restore confidence and fix her misconceptions, the Prosecution said. It will also aim for a reconciliation between her and her relatives, reintegrating her into society, and allowing her to continue education or to be trained in order to find an appropriate job opportunity, the Prosecution added.