As Alexandria’s streets were flooded with water, leaving seven dead, hundreds without electricity, and more with their homes and businesses damaged, social media users shared the photograph above, mocking the policeman for his weight and for standing idly. Comments on social media largely consisted of body shaming and even saw the policeman being photoshopped into embarrassing situations that made fun of his weight. A day later, it was revealed that the policeman in the photo is Lieutenant Colonel Mostafa Mokhtar, a former national taekwondo champion who had suffered a spinal injury that forced him out of the sport, and career, he loves. On live television, Mr Mokhtar revealed how he had “lived the blackest [worst] night of my life” after his photograph went viral on Facebook for all the wrong reasons. “I was shocked. I got home after work and was really tired and so I went to sleep. I woke up and found my wife was really upset,” said Mr Mokhtar in an interview. “I asked her what is wrong, and she said a lot of people are insulting saying you were standing there and didn’t look good. I told her it’s…
Body Shamed and Bullied Online, Egyptian Policeman’s Story Revealed
October 27, 2015
