Assaults on women in Cairo shock Egyptians

Reports of assaults against women by hordes of young men in the center of Cairo have horrified and confounded the Egyptian population. The government has, however, made light of the incident by failing to respond. Police were not available to protect the women and the state media has not provided coverage of the events. News of the incident was picked up by a private television channel after it was first dispersed through the internet by Egyptian bloggers.

Although the assaults took place over the Eid al-Fitr period starting on 23 October, religious fanaticism does not seem to be fitting explanation for the assaults. Women who were on their own were assaulted regardless of whether they were wearing the veil.

Commentators offered competing analyses of the incident blaming the young men’s shocking behavior on the collapse of law and order in Egypt, lack of economic opportunity and therefore the inability to pin down marriage prospects and the breakdown of traditional values.

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