The former dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar University Mabrouk Attia announced on Wednesday that he would be suspending his social media accounts following fierce backlash from comments he made regarding the murder of Mansoura University student Naira Ashraf.
Attia said in a live video broadcast on his personal Facebook page, “I calmly present this last meeting. I named it for this. I took the leave, and I may or may not return.”
“We teach students in universities that one of the mistakes of scientific research is the transfer from an intermediary source, due to the availability of the original reference,” Attia said.
“The video was clear… I did not say that the girl was unveiled or went out without covering her hair… I did not justify the killing in the name of the veil,” Attia added.
National Council for Women takes action
The National Council for Women (NCW) submitted a report to the Public Prosecutor denouncing Al-Azhar University professor Mabrouk Attia’s statement regarding about the murdered Mansoura University student Naira Ashraf.
The NCW said it strongly condemned Attia’s statement on his personal Facebook account, where he wrote: “If you want to protect yourself, put on a veil while going out.”
NCW President Maya Morsy expressed her deep sadness over the death of Ashraf, asking: “What sin did this girl commit to be killed?”
She harshly condemned Attia’s statement, stressing that a preacher should never say such a thing and slamming his contempt for women and incitement to violence and murder against them, which is a crime punishable by law.
She assured the NCW will take legal action.
Attia was also fiercely attacked by the head of the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights Nihad Aboul Qumsan, after his recent statements.
She accused him of calling for violence against unveiled girls, and stressed that legal action must be taken against him.
In a telephone interview with host Azza Mustafa, during the “Tahrir Hall” program, Aboul Qumsan said she would file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor against Attia.
“What he said is an extension of a chain of aggressive opinions,” she said.
“Go to Afghanistan at the Taliban and wear a veil. We have our laws to protects girls.”
“This video is inciting and insulting to the Egyptian state and Egyptian men; Because it indicates that the country does not have a law, and Egypt has a police, judiciary and law that holds the wrongdoer accountable,” she added.
“These statements suggest that this is the environment in which Egyptian women live.”
“I demand that the Public Prosecutor opens an investigation against him, and we fear that these statements will turn into phenomena,” she added.
‘Blood on their hands’
She added that the killing of the Mansoura student in front of the university campus is as if it happened inside the university, and does not absolve university officials of responsibility, she said.
She further warned of hostile discourse on the Internet, and YouTube in particular, that incites violence against women.
“The rhetoric of hate, hostility and terrorism must stop,” Morsy lamented.
Morsy added on her account on Facebook on Tuesday, that everyone who came out against women and justified violence against them because of their attire – including preachers – have Ashraf’s blood and the blood of victims of similar crimes on their hands.
“Sheikh Mabrouk came out with a speech that terrorizes the girls and women of Egypt, although appearance or clothing does not justify a crime, and we have a law that protects us and a justice system that protects us,” Morsy said.
A horrifying crime
Eyewitnesses reported that a young man, a third year Arts student stabbed Ashraf in front of the gate as she was on her way to the bus stop, heading home to al-Mahalla, in Gharbiya governorate, where she lives.
When people tried to catch him, he sliced the victim’s neck. Eventually, he was captured by security and passerbys.
According to investigations, Mohamed Adel, a student in the third year at the Faculty of Arts at Mansoura University, slaughtered Ashraf at the university gates on Monday morning.
The suspect admitted during interrogation that he had committed the crime and he talked the prosecution through how the crime scene unfolded.
The Public Prosecution decided on Tuesday, to detain the suspect, for four days, pending investigations.
A horrifying crime
Eyewitnesses reported that the young man, a third year Arts student stabbed the young lady in front of the gate as she was on her way to the bus stop, heading home to al-Mahalla, in Gharbiya governorate, where she lives.
When people tried to catch him, he sliced the victim’s neck.
Eventually he was captured by security and passerbys.
According to investigations, Mohamed Adel, a student in the third year at the Faculty of Arts at Mansoura University, slaughtered Ashraf at the university gates on Monday morning.
The suspect admitted during interrogation that he had committed the crime and he talked the prosecution through how the crime scene unfolded.
The Public Prosecution decided on Tuesday, to detain the suspect, for four days, pending investigations.
