Interview with girl who said: NO!
October 22nd, 2008Last July, the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights released a shocking report on sexual harassment in Egypt. Almost two-thirds of the men surveyed reported that they perpetrated sexual harassment, and half of them blamed the women for bringing it on. In a society where the onus of the blame lies on the woman, it’s unsurprising that very few (only 2.4%) report the harassment to police.
But Noha Rushdie, a 27 year old filmmaker, refused to remain silent and defiantly insisted on taking her harasser to court. Yesterday, and for thefirst time ever in Egypt, the man was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with hard labour.
I stumbled upon an interview (in Arabic) with Noha and after reading it resolved to share her inspiring story at Mideast Youth. Below is my translation (it’s somewhat awkward – I need to sharpen my Arabic skills):
Q. Can you recount to us what happened on that day?
I had returned from a trip with a friend of mine, and as we were nearing the building I reside in, I saw a pickup approaching, and as it closed in the driver steered closer towards me. At that moment, I felt something unusual was going to happen. Once the driver was adjacent to me, he extended his arm through the window and groped my breast, and proceeded to pull me towards him violently. I was in so much pain that I felt I would pass out.
Q. And what did you do?
At first, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I tried to push him away with all my strength, but he wouldn’t let go of me, until I felt I could no longer resist him. I fell on the floor, screaming, and it was then that he drove off. As he drove away, he looked back with a mocking smile on his face, one that I will never forget. It was the smile of a person who was confident of himself and what he had done; an “experienced person”, as if it wasn’t the first time he did it.
Q. How did you feel at the time?
I felt more than humiliated; I felt anger, an indescribable anger.
Q. What happened next?
Luckily, at that moment, a car came from the opposite direction, forcing the pickup driver to stop. So I ran and stood on the car’s hood, to prevent him from escaping.
Q. Didn’t you feel afraid or hesitant?
At the time, I was overcome by a feeling of strength and was prepared to be run over by his car, but not to let him get away with it. He reversed with the car, while I was still on the hood, and I fell on the ground again.
Q. Weren’t there any pedestrians on the street? There are many shops on that street; did anyone come forward to help you?
When people gathered – and most of them were workers in the nearby shops – and asked what happened, I told them that he sexually harassed me. It seemed they didn’t understand term, but inferred that it meant “mu’akasa” (a term that would translate to ‘teasing’).
Q. And what did they do?
Strangely, some of them tried to help the driver escape! Some of them told me “We’ll make him apologize to you,” and when I refused, they yelled at me demanding to know what it was that I wanted. I told them that I wanted to take him to a police station, and one man told me, “I don’t understand what it is you’re doing, standing in the midst of men!” Even people who were witnessing the scene from their balconies simply stood and watched.
Q. Were you wearing provocative clothes?
Not at all; I was wearing loose clothing, yet despite that a person commented, “First look at what you’re wearing”. When it comes to harassment, people hold on to a notion that the woman must have been dressed provocatively.
Q. Do you believe that you wouldn’t have experienced the harassment if you were wearing hijab?
Certainly not! Clothes are no longer a measure that prevents women in Egypt from falling as victims of harassment. What’s ironic is that the first time I was harassed years ago, I was wearing a hijab.
Q. Weren’t there any women who tried to help you?
I only saw one woman, and sadly she advised me to let him go.
Q. You said you that the events occurred in the street where you reside. Why didn’t you ask for help from a person you were acquainted with?
In such a situation, help is not asked for. But when my friend sought help from a worker at a garage that’s near my home, he pretended he couldn’t hear her.
Q. Do you mean to say that you couldn’t find anyone to help you?
A youth who couldn’t have been more than 20 years old was the only one who sympathized with me, especially after people began to describe me as crazy for determining to take the driver to a police station that was only a few metres away.
Q. Did you take him to the station yourself?
At first, my friend went to seek help from anyone at the station, but the police assistant simply said, “This is not our concern,” and so the young man, my friend and I had to drag the driver to the station. All the while, the crowd was walking behind us, and I could hear them asking, “Is she crazy?”
Q. And what happened at the station?
The police assistant contacted the officer by phone, but the officer didn’t show up! The police assistant tried to dissuade me by saying, “You’ll only be causing yourself a lot of trouble through what you’re doing,” but I responded that I studied law and was fully aware of my situation. The assistant wrote a report and took my statements. However, he took neither my friend’s nor the youth’s statements. He then told me that there were no cars to transport the driver to the central station, and that I’d have to transport him in my car.
Q. And did you actually transport him in your car?
I had no other choice, and I headed with my father and a policeman from the station to the Heliopolis Station to document the report. There, the Officer expressed his resentment at my having to transport the driver in my car, and from there I headed to the prosecutor’s office. At that point, the driver tried to apologize, which would mean an implicit confession but later denied what happened. The prosecutor was very respectful and commended me for my bravery.
Q. What was your impression on the people’s reaction, whether on the street or in the station?
I was shocked by their reactions more than I was at the harassment. I felt they were not true men and lacked religious values. These people would readily argue with a cab driver over one pound, but not for a woman who was subjected to humiliation. What’s ironic is that at the police station I met a lawyer and instead of offering me instead, he asked, “What girl would do this to herself?”
Q. So there was a general consensus that your insistence on demanding your rights was “creating trouble” for yourself?
Indeed, it’s as if it’s a normal thing for a girl to be harassed on the street, and she’s expected to simply carry on as if nothing happened! We’re witnessing a terrible state of carelessness – people pay no heed to the concept of honour, and consider it wrong if a girl took a stand. But what is right then – the actions of the driver? What’s strange is that the people wouldn’t help me, yet at the same time didn’t want me to demand my rights.
Q. Was that the first time you were ever harassed?
Of course not, as harassment now occurs everywhere – at work and on the street – and during any time of the day. There no longer is any place where women can feel safe and guarantee that they won’t be harassed in any way.
Q. So why did you decide to demand your rights this time? And did your study of law influence your decision?
This time it was different, as being harassed through groping leaves a woman feeling terribly humiliated. I went through a similar situation when I was much younger, but couldn’t defend myself at the time. I suffered from its emotional and psychological effects for many years and resolved that I would never abandon my rights again. And I believe that the feeling of violation is not related to academic qualifications. I felt offended and resolved to take all necessary measures with this driver.
Q. Do you think harassment is a phenomenon linked to the less privileged social classes?
Not necessarily, as there are rich individuals who harass girls from the less privileged social classes using their power and money and it would be unjust to say the phenomenon is exclusive to the less privileged. The phenomenon is related to concepts that people are afraid to discuss such as society’s perception of women. Women might be “weak” beings, but they are not “despicable” beings.
Q. Now that several months have passed since the incident, has your stance changed? Did your anger wane and do you sympathize with the driver?
The impact of the incident might have waned, but I will not feel completely at peace until I’ve taken my right. If I remain silent, the effects on my psychological well-being will be severe. If a harassed woman pretends to not care, it would have adverse effects on her psychological well-being. It’s inevitable that she would eventually collapse. If I chose to remain silent, I’d have transgressed against myself and affirmed the false notions that I am weak and in need of protection.
Q. Have any of the driver’s relatives attempted to contact you in order to resolve the problem amicably?
The owner of the company that employs the driver came to the police station and said, “I’m willing to beat him for you, just let him go.” I replied to him, “I won’t repeat the usual talk of ‘what if the victim was your sister or daughter’, but I ask you whether your stance would be the same if you were personally harassed,” and he remained silent. The driver’s lawyer and mother attempted to contact me, but I remained resilient.
Q. You’re still waiting for your case to appear before court. Do you have confidence that justice will be served? What if the ruling wasn’t in your favour, considering the fact that there is no clause in the penal code that mentions the term “sexual harassment”?
The case will be considered on the 21st of October, and it’s expected that it will either be delayed, or a final verdict issued as it was filed as a crime of indecent assault. If it’s proven that the act was premeditated, there could be a maximum sentence of 15 years.
However, it’s not unlikely for the driver to be declared innocent if doubt is cast on the statements of the only witness, my friend Hind. I hope that all my efforts do not go in vain.
Q. What is your opinion on the currently proposed bill that would set a definition for sexual harassment and criminalize it?
People on the street found it strange when I mentioned the word “harassment”. Sexual harassment is a crime, but what’s the benefit if the law isn’t enacted? Laws alone are not act as a deterrent and women stand up for themselves. The clause of indecent assault is present in the penal code, but was it ever used?
Q. Were you not concerned for your reputation, especially after the media began to discuss your case?
I’m the victim here, and not the perpetrator. My aim behind appearing in media outlets is to become a role model for other women and to encourage them to speak out. And my appearance had positive effects and I received many calls from officials at the Interior Ministry inquiring about the specifics of the incident. All of them showed utmost respect and offered their apologies, although one of them commented that it’s not logical that a person would reach him arm out through the window while driving.
Q. And what was your response?
I told him, “Is all that happened logical in the first place? Is it logical that I was harassed close to my home and next to a police station? Is it logical that no one from the station agreed to offer assistance?”
Q. How did you benefit from the experience?
Firstly, I’ve learned that determination inspires a person with both psychological and physical strength. Despite the driver being larger than me, I was able to resist him. Secondly, I’ve learned that as long as I’m on the right, I will not be affected by the words of those who try to dissuade or silence me.
Q. You’re a documentary director and short films. After what has happened, are you considering directing a film on sexual harassment?
Of course it crossed my mind, but it’s certain that the film wouldn’t have the same positive impact as my refusal to remain silent. If Egyptian women refused to remain silent, we wouldn’t have witnessed the massive organized harassment in the Mohandeseen area.
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[...] groped a sum of money. More from the LA Times, Menassat, and The New York Times. MidEast Youth has an interview with the survivor, Noha. Via [...]
Hi Kawthar,
Thank you so much for your quick response to my comment on your post about child brides. Even though you claim that you are not an expert in the field, your point of view interests me.
I am also interested in why you choose to write so frequently about women. Is your point of view in any way controversial to the norm of your city or of your country?
Also, how did you get involved with the group “No Honor”? Is this group in any way controversial?
As an American, I wonder if my ideas about blogs or what is in them is really much different from those ideas in the Sudan.
Thanks so much for your time!
Women and their (lack of) rights in the Middle East and elsewhere has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised outside of Sudan, and haven’t really ventured outside the capital during my frequent visits so I’m wary of making social commentaries on the country, but I always felt that my views are unlikely to receive a warm reception.
The gains Sudanese women were able to gain following independence (for instance equal pay, the right to vote, etc) were brought to an end with the Islamization of the country over the past 25 years. Many women supported the move, believing that Sharia is the true path and that Sharia champions equal rights, but that’s hard to swallow when the public flogging of “immodest” women was very common until recent years.
Of all issues affecting women in the region, honour-based violence is the most I feel passionate about. My introduction to honour crimes was through a newspaper report at the age of 8 (a father had murdered his 16 year old daughter after hearing rumours that she was involved in an illicit affair, but even after a medical exmaination proved she was a virgin, he only received a 2 year sentence), and since then I’ve spent a considerable amount of time reading about HBV. When Mideast Youth launched the “No Honor” campaign, I thought it was about time that I do something about it, even if it is minimal.
Whether or not the No Honor it’s controversial depends on context, but since it’s a web-based initiative, it would mean that most who hear of the effort would be supportive of it. But there have been voices who spoke out in defence of the practice, claiming it “protects” societies.
Over all, as long as the campaign condemns the violence and does not raise the banner of promoting sexual freedom, it wouldn’t spark a huge outcry.
As far as I know, blogs have yet to achieve widespread popularity in Sudan, but the ‘Sudanosphere’ has been growing over the past few years. They’re pretty much used for the same purposes as elsewhere across the globe: sharing information, as an avenue for personal expression and for raising awareness.
I hope my response has addressed your questions
green bowel movements…
good stuff – great blog!…