Thread by @monaeltahawy

Disgraceful: #Egyptian court has upheld a two-year prison sentence against Amal Fathy, a woman human rights defender convicted over a video she posted online criticizing the Egyptian authorities for failing to tackle sexual harassment.

https://twitter.com/writesrights/status/1079430139556040709

“The fact that a survivor of sexual harassment is being punished with a two-year prison sentence simply for speaking out about her experience is utterly disgraceful. This verdict makes a mockery of justice and should be a stain on the conscience of the #Egyptian authorities.”

Amal Fathy complained on Facebook about being sexually harassed twice in one day. She was sentenced to 2yrs in prison for “spreading false news.” Her sentencing aims to terrorize women out of public space & is green light to men that they can assault women w/impunity.Shame #Egypt

The sentencing of Amal Fathy in #Egypt is a green light from Sisi regime that every woman is fair game. This is what we mean when we talk about authoritarian patriarchy. Sisi, Trump, Erdigan, Orban, Xi Jinping. Patriarchy at the highest levels, protects & enables misogyny. Global

Amal Fathy posted a FB video in which she said police guarding a bank had sexually harassed her and she criticized the govt for not doing more to protect women. She was sentenced to 2yrs in prison under #Egypt’s “fake news” laws nymag.com/developing/201…

Amal Fathy’s sentencing came on heels of a similar incident involving #Lebanese tourist Mona el-Mazbouh, who was also punished for posting a video complaining about being sexually harassed in #Cairo. This is patriarchy using authoritarian laws to punish women for speaking out

#Egypt has purportedly vowed to fight sexual harassment: parliament introduced tougher penalties last year. But it is punishing women who expose sexual violence by accusing them of the umbrella term “insulting #Egypt” and “fake news.”

Misogyny is the beating heart of authoritarianism. That is why Amal Fathy is being punished for exposing sexual violence. When you punish women who expose sexual violence, what other message are you sending out other than patriarchy enables & protects misogyny?

Where there is authoritarianism there is misogyny: Pres. Grab Them By The Pussy, his friends #Saudi absolute monarchy with its gender apartheid, his friend #Egypt’s Pres Sisi who during #Jan25 was head of military intelligence which subjected “virginity tests” on women activists.

When the state - or its head - subjects women to sexual violence, it gives a green light to all men that women’s bodies are fair game. #Egypt