Egyptian Sufi sheikh arrested for alleged sexual harassment

A religious leader of Egypt's Sufi movement was arrested on Friday for sexual harassment after a woman alleged he sent her a sexually explicit photograph without her consent.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry, Sheikh Salah Eddin al-Tijani will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office for a full investigation after his arrest.

The case has sparked considerable controversy in Egypt.

On Tuesday, the alleged victim publicly accused al-Tijani of sexual misconduct on social media, an allegation that has since attracted widespread attention across the country.

However, at the time of publication, no formal complaint had been filed.

In her social media post, the woman stated that al-Tijani's actions had deeply disturbed her, especially given that her family considered him close to her.

She also described the impact of the incident, saying: “The sheikh destroyed my life and I am still recovering from the trauma he caused me.”

The woman expressed her frustration that her family continues to support al-Tijani unconditionally despite her warnings.

Al-Tijani responded by filing a defamation suit against the woman and her father, claiming they damaged his reputation.

According to Egyptian social media, the victim's mother has publicly denied her daughter's allegations, sharing links questioning the victim's credibility and suggesting that she suffers from a mental disorder related to bullying at school.

Since the trial is not yet complete, both al-Tijani and the woman are being further investigated by the public prosecutor's office.

Following the woman's viral post, the Center for Egyptian Legal Aid for Women (CEWLA) announced on Thursday that it had received complaints from three more women accusing al-Tijani of both online and physical harassment.

CEWLA lawyer Nada Nashaat noted that the victims, including one person under 21, reported similar methods of harassment by the sheikh.

She added that the center is currently working to provide legal assistance to victims and collect evidence for possible legal action.

The sheikdom of the Tijaniyya Order then declared that it had distanced itself from al-Tijani and described him as a self-proclaimed sheikh who was misleading young Muslims in the Cairo district of Imbaba and was not recognized as a scholar.

Al-Tijani, known for his writings on religious and Sufi topics, was formerly affiliated with the Tijaniyya Order, but founded his own “Tijaniyya Salahiyya Order” in 2000 after internal disputes.

He has gained a following in Egypt both offline and online, including local celebrities who support his teachings.

Sexual harassment remains a widespread problem in Egypt. According to a 2013 UN study, 99.3 percent of Egyptian women and girls have experienced some form of harassment in their lives.

When it comes to sexual abuse of women and girls, Egypt ranks second in the world after Afghanistan.