Egypt: Three men acquitted of assaulting a Christian woman

Mrs Suad Thabet, Credit: CSW

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports that the three men accused of attacking, beating and stripping an elderly Christian woman in the village of Al-Karm, Minya Governorate, in May 2016, have been acquitted on appeal.

The Court of Appeal issued its verdict on 9 January 2023, acquitting the men of the charges levelled against them. They were initially acquitted by a criminal court in December 2020, after repeated delays in Mrs Suad Thabet's case. An appeal against that decision was rejected in January 2021, and this latest verdict from the Court of Appeal is final.

Mrs Thabet, who was 72 years old at the time, was attacked, beaten, and stripped in public by a mob on 20 May 2016 after her son was accused of having a relationship with a divorced Muslim woman. Her son was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of adultery on 27 July 2017. The sentence was reduced to one year in April 2018, and he was released on 11 October 2018.

The attack against Mrs Thabet shocked and outraged Egyptians and brought on an apology from President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi who also ordered that all the houses damaged in the same incident - all belonging to Copts and among them Mrs Thabet's house - should be repaired by and at the expense of the Armed Forces, which was promptly done.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights condemned the 9 January acquittal, stating that: "acquitting the accused sends a message that encourages attacks against women."

CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: "We are deeply disappointed that the perpetrators in Mrs Thabet's case have been acquitted and that no-one has been held accountable for this appalling attack on an elderly woman and the sectarian attacks. As well as sending an ominous message with regard to gender-based violations, these incidents undermine the Egyptian constitution, the rule of law and the personal commitment of President al Sisi to end discriminatory practices against the Christian community. They also indicate to the Egyptian people as well as to the international community that religion-related impunity remains entrenched, including in the country's highest court. We urge the Egyptian government to take decisive steps to ensure women are better protected, and that victims of sectarian attacks receive justice."