Tiktok influencer to appeal 10-year trafficking sentence in Cairo
CAIRO, EGYPT | A top Egyptian influencer from Tiktok will appeal a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of human trafficking, in the latest twist that would see the victim exhaust all possible channels of justice in the South African country. North.
Haneen Hossam, 20, fought with authorities in Cairo after being found guilty in the courts and will also have the acceptable role, Reuters reported, for encouraging women to share images on the sharing app. videos in exchange for money.
“We will demand the reinstatement of the proceedings because there are contradictions between the verdict and the substance on which the court’s decision is based,” said lawyer Hani Sameh.
“We hope she can get a reduced prison sentence or an acquittal,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
For years, several women have been victims of “incitement to debauchery” for challenging the social values of the country through the use of new media. Egypt is first and foremost a conservative Islamic country with a few Christians.
On her Tiktok, she has around 7 million followers and was one of five Egyptian social media influencers who were sentenced to two years in prison in July 2020 for encouraging immorality by encouraging women to earn money. through social networks.
The other four members of the group were Mawaddah Al-Adham, who was convicted of sharing “indecent” photos and videos with his million Instagram followers, and three men who were convicted of aiding the two women.
An appeals court overturned the decision in January, but introduced new human trafficking charges. The five defendants were released in February after spending eight months in prison.
In an exciting twist, the five were convicted of human trafficking and were subsequently fined $ 13,000. Hossam was sentenced to the longest prison term – 10 years – along with Al-Adham and the three men were only sentenced to six years.
“The decision is harsh and exaggerated,” said Reda Eldanbouki, executive director of the Women’s Center for Legal Guidance and Awareness.
“Such a verdict restricts the right to freedom of opinion and expression and aims to control women’s bodies and impose guardianship over their actions,” he said.
Women’s rights activist Entessar el-Saeed, who also heads the Cairo Foundation for Development and Law, said authorities unfairly singled out women – not men – in their efforts to “safeguard »Family values.
“We can see other videos and social media posts of men justifying marital rape but no reaction against them. Doesn’t that violate family values?” El-Saeed asked.
AXADLETM
