American CBS correspondent Lara Logan was sexually assaulted on the streets of Cairo, as she was attacked by mob who separated her from her crew (Read the story here). Not much details is made available at this point. We are sorry to hear about the assault and condemn by by the strongest language. Sexual harassment is a serious subject in Egypt and the plight of women has almost never been heard before. I pray to Lara and the countless nameless faceless sexual harassment in Egypt and elsewhere, this is not an Egyptian problem, it's a global one.
This story reminds me of a popular song released in 2009 by the famed Iraqi singer Shadaa Hassoun. The song was titled Mza'alny, which means he upsets me. It's an Iraqi song and becasue this this popular singer performed it it became an instant hit. On the lyrics of the song is the Arabic word Yit'harsh (Yit7arash) which has two different meanings. In Iraq the word means to tease or to provoke, in Egypt and everywhere else it means to sexually harass. Can you see how this song can be a problem?
Women groups in Egypt voiced concern about the song, and Shadaa has issued an apology and an explanation. She was asked about it on more than one occasion and she explained that it was not her intention to offend anyone. (Read More Here) So sexual harassment of anything that comes near that subjects in the Arab word is not something taking lightly and that explains the uproar with this song. I know similar things will happen in America if this was an issue in the media.
Shada Hassoun - Mza'alny / شدى حسون - مزعلنى
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