The Incident

First he set her car on fire when she refused his marriage proposal. Then, her ex-fiance gunned Nourhan* down on the campus of Cairo University, before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.  (*Note, only first names were provided in all reports on this case)

Legal Response

Nourhan’s ex-fiance Ahmed*, escaped trial through his own death. In Egypt, murder can lead to the death penalty, but here justice remains unserved. (*Ahmed is the first name given in reports of the perpetrator)

Wider Context

Violence against women is rising in Egypt, but it’s often brushed under the carpet. 90% of men and 70% of women in Egypt believe that women should tolerate gender-based violence from their spouses for the sake of keeping the family together.  A United Nations survey in 2015 showed that 8 million women admitted to having experienced gender based violence – it is unknown how many would not even admit it in a confidential survey.

Responsible Legislation in the Country

Egypt’s anti-GBV laws are tough on paper. The constitution prohibits violence against women. However, generally patriarchal legislation and conservative interpretations of Islam severely limit women’s rights and stop them coming forward at the stages of harassment that could prevent the senseless deaths of so many women in the country at the hands of men.