Egyptian court sentences 79-year-old to life for child molestation

The Damanhour Criminal Court sentenced a 79-year-old financial supervisor at Al-Karma Language School in Damanhour, Beheira Governorate, to life imprisonment (25 years) on April 30, 2025, for sexually assaulting 6-year-old Yassin.

The assault, which took place in the school’s bathroom and garage, sparked nationwide outrage and demands for justice.

The case began in January 2024 when Yassin’s mother noticed her son’s refusal to use the bathroom. After questioning him, she discovered he had been sexually assaulted by a school employee.

A medical examination confirmed repeated assaults, and Yassin identified the accused through social media photos, also implicating a female worker who allegedly knew of the incident.

The child’s father, working abroad, returned to Egypt to file a complaint, but the Damanhour Police Station initially refused to register the case, citing elapsed time and the child’s inability to conclusively identify the perpetrator.

The prosecution referred Yassin to forensic medicine, which found evidence suggesting sexual assault. Despite this, the initial investigation was closed, and the accused was released on bail. The case was reopened on January 14, 2025, after the mother’s persistent grievance, which demanded testimony from a female worker accused of concealing the crime for money and intermediaries pressuring the family to settle informally.

During the trial on April 30, 2025, the court amended the charge to “assault by force under threat,” reflecting the crime’s severity. The child’s legal team, supported by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, presented forensic evidence and Yassin’s consistent identification of the accused.

Despite the defense’s claim of insufficient evidence, the court delivered a life sentence. Crowds outside the courthouse chanted for justice, with some demanding harsher punishment.

In response to the verdict, Egypt’s Ministry of Education dismissed the school’s director and launched a committee to review the school’s operations. Allegations of a cover-up by the school administration, including claims that the principal downplayed the incident, have fueled public anger and calls for stricter child protection measures in schools.

Yassin’s mother, hailed as the “hero” of the case, was praised for her relentless pursuit of justice. The case has become a rallying point for child safety advocacy in Egypt, highlighting the need for accountability in educational institutions.