The Egyptian Public Prosecution commented on allegations spread across Instagram regarding cases of attempted assault and sexual harassment within a private university.
The office confirmed that it has opened an immediate investigation into the incident and has questioned university leaders and students.
In its statement released Wednesday evening, the Prosecution confirmed it preempted formal procedures and took action after its media center spotted two videos published by an account hosted by a college graduate residing outside the country on the Instagram application.
The account alleged incidents of verbal harassment, sexual abuse, and attempted rape attributed to a faculty member in the Law School of a private university.
The account owner also claimed to have obtained testimonies from female students and graduates confirming these incidents.
The Prosecution noted that it questioned the Dean of the Law School at the university, a faculty member, and the university’s Security Director. They testified that they had not received any official complaints concerning the allegations made by the videos.
The Prosecution further clarified that it listened to the testimony of a college graduate, who stated that she herself had not been subjected to any of the alleged incidents.
She confirmed that she obtained her information solely from the person who published the videos, and stressed that no victim had come forward to file a complaint with the Public Prosecution Office to date.
University strikes back with claims of ‘defamation’
The Prosecution also mentioned that the university administration had formally demanded that the publisher of the videos provide any information and evidence he possessed regarding his claims.
However, the Prosecution noted that he only provided a complaint containing unsubstantiated and anonymous statements about unspecified incidents, which he then published on social media.
The Public Prosecution added that the university administration had sent an official message to all its students and faculty members, urging them to come forward with any information or complaints related to the published content with complete confidentiality.
However, no one came forward, prompting the university administration to file a complaint against the video publisher for broadcasting false news with the intent of defaming the university and its faculty members.
The Prosecution called on anyone with any evidence or information regarding the incident to come forward directly to its office, ensuring that legal procedures follow their correct course alongside safeguarding rights and guaranteeing the confidentiality and seriousness that such cases require.
The Prosecution stressed that the personal data of victims in such cases is protected by absolute confidentiality, according to the provisions of the law.
