2005 witnessed the first group and public sexual harassment of women on the street in an attempt to intimidate the Kefaya movement, its women and men, and terrify them away from demonstrating and demanding democracy. Then, the thugs were attacking upon the orders of the Ministry of Interior. In 2006 they took the initiative and a launched their second collective and public sexual harassment of women in more than one location turning the days of the feast into hell for every woman who happened to be on the street seeking to celebrate the holidays. This time the harassment was protected by the police who were present. Between both incidents there are thousands of daily stories of harassment, albeit less public: on the street, at the work place, in public transportation, in crowded gatherings.  Every time the Ministry of interior insists that nothing has happened! And Every time we hear some voices who blame the women for being the cause of that harassment, either because of what they wear or how they behave or even just for being out there, in the public space; an attitude which betrays the belief that streets, cinemas, playgrounds, and public spaces are there for men only.

But that is not the attitude of all Egyptians. Among Egyptians are women and men who look upon each other as human beings entitled to respect and freedom. In Egypt there are women and men who will not give up their right to freedom of movement and to be wherever they wish to be. Women and men who love life and believe that its beauty is incomplete in the absence of half of society. Among Egyptians are women and men who do not look upon women as bodies exhibited for their use, nor upon men as creatures led by their instincts. There are women and men who deal with each other as human beings, with all the humanity, respect for the other and love for freedom that this entails.

We are some of those women. We shall not desert the street and we shall not resort to exile ourselves inside our homes.. The street belongs to us and to each and every free spirit in this country.

As we express our solidarity with all women who have been subject to sexual harassment during the feast and on the 25^th of May 2005 and on each day of the year,

We announce that we shall start a campaign defending out presence, our right to public space, our right to a life free of violence and sexual harassment;

And we call upon everybody, women and men, to gather in front of the Metro Theater (one of the locations where the harassments took place) on Tuesday, at 3 p.m., to express our solidarity with the victims of harassment and to make a statement that the street is ours. Nobody will terrify us away. Nobody will isolate us in our country. 

contact us: info@streetisours.org