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| Phone stalkers torment Egypt women | Phone stalkers torment Egypt women |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Stopping harassment has been high on the civil society agenda for years | Stopping harassment has been high on the civil society agenda for years |
| By Christian Fraser BBC News, Cairo | By Christian Fraser BBC News, Cairo |
| The crowded, bustling streets of Cairo can be an intimidating environment for women who venture out alone or even in groups. | The crowded, bustling streets of Cairo can be an intimidating environment for women who venture out alone or even in groups. |
| It is well known that sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in Egypt, from touching to lewd and abusive cat calls. | It is well known that sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in Egypt, from touching to lewd and abusive cat calls. |
| But it seems there is another phenomenon that goes largely unreported, phone stalking. With the advance of modern technology a large number of women complain they receive the unwelcome and relentless attention of men they have never met. | But it seems there is another phenomenon that goes largely unreported, phone stalking. With the advance of modern technology a large number of women complain they receive the unwelcome and relentless attention of men they have never met. |
| One of our colleagues in the BBC office has had a number of phone stalkers, who call repeatedly through the day and sometimes in the middle of the night. She has given them no encouragement - but rarely do they need it. | One of our colleagues in the BBC office has had a number of phone stalkers, who call repeatedly through the day and sometimes in the middle of the night. She has given them no encouragement - but rarely do they need it. |
| "What's your name?" enquired one whose mobile number has become depressingly recognisable. | "What's your name?" enquired one whose mobile number has become depressingly recognisable. |
| "What's your NAME?" he demanded insistently. "Hello.... Hello." | "What's your NAME?" he demanded insistently. "Hello.... Hello." |
| He knows who he is talking to, because some weeks ago our colleague had engaged him in conversation, a decision she soon regretted. It was the only encouragement he needed to start pestering her with calls. | He knows who he is talking to, because some weeks ago our colleague had engaged him in conversation, a decision she soon regretted. It was the only encouragement he needed to start pestering her with calls. |
| Personal intrusion | Personal intrusion |
| Most of the harassment - calls and texts - are from young men who ring numbers at random, and often the conversations are fairly commonplace. But occasionally they can lead to something more sinister. | Most of the harassment - calls and texts - are from young men who ring numbers at random, and often the conversations are fairly commonplace. But occasionally they can lead to something more sinister. |
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| Repressed sex in Egyptian society manifests itself in many forms: crank calls, Arabic porn channels, harassing women in the street, secret marriages Said SadekAUC Sociology Dept Send us your experiences | |
| "We know of some cases where it has turned nasty," said Nihad Qomsan, from the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights. | "We know of some cases where it has turned nasty," said Nihad Qomsan, from the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights. |
| "We have had cases where the caller tells her, 'I know you, I know your address' or 'I know where you work or where you study'. And he keeps calling - then the language becomes more threatening or insulting. By then it is too late." | "We have had cases where the caller tells her, 'I know you, I know your address' or 'I know where you work or where you study'. And he keeps calling - then the language becomes more threatening or insulting. By then it is too late." |
| At the youth magazine Teenstuff, the girls we interviewed said they'd all experienced some form of phone stalking. | At the youth magazine Teenstuff, the girls we interviewed said they'd all experienced some form of phone stalking. |
| "I was once stalked by someone I know," said 16-year-old Safeya Zeitoun. "He would call every hour." | "I was once stalked by someone I know," said 16-year-old Safeya Zeitoun. "He would call every hour." |
| "I give the phone to my brother and he shouts at them," said another 16-year-old, Marwa Makhlouf . | "I give the phone to my brother and he shouts at them," said another 16-year-old, Marwa Makhlouf . |
| "I had a guy who kept calling me at 0400," said Mona Bassell, 17. "He said: 'Hey, how are you doing?' as if he was a friend. I told him to stop calling but he said: 'No, I want to get to know you.' | "I had a guy who kept calling me at 0400," said Mona Bassell, 17. "He said: 'Hey, how are you doing?' as if he was a friend. I told him to stop calling but he said: 'No, I want to get to know you.' |
| Politicians have pledged to tackle verbal and physical abuse | Politicians have pledged to tackle verbal and physical abuse |
| "They think it is funny but it's so frustrating and sometimes it causes real problems for the girl. | "They think it is funny but it's so frustrating and sometimes it causes real problems for the girl. |
| "Sometimes she has to tell her friends and only when they each share their stories do they realise they all have the same problem." | "Sometimes she has to tell her friends and only when they each share their stories do they realise they all have the same problem." |
| In fact in a survey last year of 2,000 women by the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights, 83% said they had encountered some form of sexual harassment - 23% said they were receiving obscene phone calls. But even so, statistics on how widespread this is are hard to come by. | In fact in a survey last year of 2,000 women by the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights, 83% said they had encountered some form of sexual harassment - 23% said they were receiving obscene phone calls. But even so, statistics on how widespread this is are hard to come by. |
| Nonetheless there are those who believe phone stalking is symptomatic of a bigger issue. | Nonetheless there are those who believe phone stalking is symptomatic of a bigger issue. |
| "The only outlet for legitimate sex in Arab society is marriage, which is very difficult to afford these days," said Said Sadek, sociologist from the American University of Cairo. | "The only outlet for legitimate sex in Arab society is marriage, which is very difficult to afford these days," said Said Sadek, sociologist from the American University of Cairo. |
| "Repressed sex in Egyptian society manifests itself in many forms: crank calls, Arabic porn channels, harassing women in the street, secret marriages - it is a real problem. | "Repressed sex in Egyptian society manifests itself in many forms: crank calls, Arabic porn channels, harassing women in the street, secret marriages - it is a real problem. |
| "They call any number until a woman answers in a soft way, in a way they might find a bit encouraging and they pursue her. But if women filed a complaint about this kind of thing - the caller can be found, no problem." | "They call any number until a woman answers in a soft way, in a way they might find a bit encouraging and they pursue her. But if women filed a complaint about this kind of thing - the caller can be found, no problem." |
| Policing problem | Policing problem |
| It should be easy to stamp out. About two years ago, following a number of angry protests and strikes organised by mobile phone users, the government moved swiftly to introduce legislation that required anyone buying a Sim card for a mobile phone to supply a name and address. | It should be easy to stamp out. About two years ago, following a number of angry protests and strikes organised by mobile phone users, the government moved swiftly to introduce legislation that required anyone buying a Sim card for a mobile phone to supply a name and address. |
| New technology has offered new opportunities for men to harass women | New technology has offered new opportunities for men to harass women |
| And yet all too often the harassment goes unreported. Either women don't believe it will be taken seriously or they don't want the added frustration of the red tape. | And yet all too often the harassment goes unreported. Either women don't believe it will be taken seriously or they don't want the added frustration of the red tape. |
| "Historically there have been lots of barriers between women and the police," said Nihad Qomsan. | "Historically there have been lots of barriers between women and the police," said Nihad Qomsan. |
| "In the past the police station has often been a source of more problems. | "In the past the police station has often been a source of more problems. |
| "But increasingly they are taking these cases of sexual harassment more seriously, which is positive." | "But increasingly they are taking these cases of sexual harassment more seriously, which is positive." |
| In February this year, parliament introduced a bill seeking the introduction of stronger penalties for sexual harassment. | In February this year, parliament introduced a bill seeking the introduction of stronger penalties for sexual harassment. |
| It will compel police to investigate all allegations of sexual harassment and those guilty of phone stalking could receive heavy fines. | It will compel police to investigate all allegations of sexual harassment and those guilty of phone stalking could receive heavy fines. |
| But the evidence suggests there is still a way to go in changing the attitude of both men and women so that society understands that sexual harassment includes all forms of physical and verbal abuse. | But the evidence suggests there is still a way to go in changing the attitude of both men and women so that society understands that sexual harassment includes all forms of physical and verbal abuse. |
| Are you in Egypt? Have you been affected by "phone stalking"? Are you elsewhere in the Middle East? Do you recognise this as a common problem? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | |
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