Image Credit: Sabah Khodir/Instagram On Sunday, 12 June, Noura Essam, a 23-year-old Egyptian woman, became the subject of a fervent nationwide search after her alleged kidnapping by her estranged father was shared across social media. Two days later, on Tuesday, 14 June, Egypt’s Public Prosecution announced her safe return and the subsequent arrest of her father. The prosecution’s statement, shared through their official social media pages, explained the details of the incident. In the two days between the newsbreak and her eventual return, a momentous social media campaign – ignited by writer and activist Sabah Khodir – brought light to the Noura’s situation and the father’s ill-treatment of his daughter. The public prosecution’s statement also acknowledged the role social media played in directing their attention to the case. A KIDNAPPING YEARS IN THE MAKING Noura had been kidnapped since 4 June, according to the prosecution’s report. Held captive by her father, the case indicates that the situation had been escalating years before the crime occurred. According to the statement, Noura’s stepgrandmother testified that Noura’s grandfather, who passed away prior to the kidnapping, had legal custody of her and her educational…
Egyptian Woman Kidnapped By Father, Rescued After Intense Social Media Campaign
June 14, 2022
