In recent years, time and again, the expression “Egyptian family values” has surged across social media and echoed in courtrooms by prosecutors and defense lawyers alike. It has become a flashpoint in public discourse without an agreed‑upon definition that captures what these values actually entail. Egyptian law’s provisions against “attacking” or “violating” family values have been used to prosecute social media content creators for allegedly “indecent” behavior online. The crackdown began in 2020 with the arrest of Haneen Hossam, a TikTok content creator, and many creators like her, in the case that became known in the media as the “TikTok Girls.” However, when policies and laws are enacted to enforce the law, the definition of the term remains vague. Violating Egyptian family values is a crime stipulated in Article 25 under Law 175 of 2018, which tackles combating information technology crimes, and includes offenses such as “breaching privacy,” “harming the national economy,” “harming national security,” or “harming the independence and stability of the country.” The legislative wording of Article 25 prescribes a penalty of six months’ imprisonment or a fine of EGP 50,000 (USD 1,056) for violating the principles of…
