Burger cart” girl breaks social taboos and earns president’s support

CAIRO – 27 April 2017: One woman who challenged Egyptian taboos and its excessive red tape to earn a livelihood gained overnight celebrity when the president himself took her side after authorities confiscated her “burger cart.”

A viral video that showed the municipality confiscating 31-year-old Yasmeen Reheem’s cart in Cairo’s Heliopolis neighborhood on April 16 triggered outrage on social media, bringing attention to governmental shortcomings in dealing with projects for 20- and 30-somethings.

“I went out in the street by myself for over two months and worked without even one day off,” Reheem told Egypt Today, adding, “Since the beginning, I had to deal with the police and the municipality.”

After the video, posted on Facebook, gained momentum and the media took notice, Reheem, was surprised to receive a call from the Minister of Social Solidarity herself, followed by a meeting with Cairo governor.

Unexpectedly, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi himself criticized the municipality’s actions Wednesday while speaking before the National Youth Conference in Ismailia; he called for the government to issue “temporary licenses” for youth projects like Reheem’s.

“Sisi restored my dignity,” Reheem said. “I was happy that he took interest in our case.”

Despite the strong and speedy governmental reaction, Reheem said she was still “frustrated” after her meeting with the governor. According to Reheem, she was asked to stop working for two weeks pending the establishment of a carts yard in Heliopolis.

“I asked the governor to give me a temporary license and he refused,” Reheem said. “I [then] asked him if he will pay for my livelihood; he laughed.”

Reheem is already back in the street, on her own responsibility, backed by strong public support and a commendation from the president himself.