Khaberni - Egyptian lawyer Nesma El-Khatib, representing a number of girls, filed a report against the author of a famous TV series "H. A." accusing him of harassment and assault.
The lawyer stated to the "Cairo 24" website that several girls revealed to her their experiences of harassment and assault by the famous series author "H. A."
One of the victims narrated her ordeal, saying, "I am one of those who were assaulted by the author.. I knew him years ago when I was 16, and he owned a public place in downtown Cairo through mutual friends who used to hang out and gather at the place he owned and managed."
She added, "I was young and inexperienced, so I treated him as if he was my older brother whose advice I sought and relied upon. However, after a while, I noticed that he began to say things with more than one meaning and used his hands while talking to me."
She continued, "When he realized I was uncomfortable, he explained that his behavior was merely out of affection and care, and that I was like a sister to him, meant nothing bad, and that I misunderstood.. Shortly after, he touched my body in a clear case of harassment, so I screamed and immediately left the place, and completely stopped dealing with him or visiting the place he managed."
She reported that he tried to contact her by all means, and when I replied once, warning him that I would inform my family if he continued to bother me, he repeatedly apologized, claiming he was not aware when he did that, and that he was ready to apologize publicly to everyone, and cried bitterly."
She mentioned feeling that something strange was indeed happening, but after much pressure, she agreed to resume talking, though deep down she just wanted to end this pressure and hoped that the mistake would not be repeated.
She added, "We returned to talk normally and he was completely respectful in his speech, so I began to trust him and dealt with him again as my older brother.. About a month later, he asked me to visit him in the morning at the place he managed to talk a bit, and since the place was public and familiar, and my friends frequented it, I agreed."
The victim continued, "I went to that place and found it empty of people, and later I realized that only a few go there early in the morning.. During our conversation, he asked me to enter the kitchen to continue our conversation while making coffee.. We entered, and suddenly he grabbed me, and when I tried to escape, he held me tightly and tried to rape me, I pushed him with all my strength but I couldn't until I screamed which scared him and he let me go."
She pointed out that she contacted two friends immediately who came quickly and witnessed her state, her clothes' condition, and what happened in those moments.
She remarked that she wished every day that she could forget what happened, or that something would happen to help her overcome this feeling every time she remembered the incident, and until today she still cannot forget it.
The production company of the series "Pride of the Delta" issued an official statement announcing the removal of the author's name from the series credits following accusations of harassment circulated on social media.
In a statement from the "Pride of the Delta" series team, it was followed with interest what was raised in recent days about a member of the writing team, emphasizing that such accusations are dealt with utmost seriousness and responsibility.
The statement clarified that the decision to temporarily remove the author's name from the series was made pending verification of the circulated information, and the necessary measures would be taken based on the results of the examination and investigation.
The team emphasized its full respect for all parties involved and its commitment to ensuring that everyone receives their rightful justice in a fair and transparent manner, preserving the rights of individuals and the reputation of the project.
The company's action followed a wide wave of accusations directed at the author for harassment and assault on women and girls.
The public reacted strongly on social media, especially on the hashtag "author of Pride of the series offender", where several victims shared their painful testimonies for the first time, sparking strong reactions demanding accountability of the responsible party and an official investigation.
