After the suicide of a minor girl in Egypt, who was a victim of cyber blackmail and defamation through the circulation of fabricated obscene images, a case that has shocked many in Egypt, Al-Azhar issued a statement affirming the religious stance on the incident and its perpetrators. Al-Azhar emphasized that respecting people's feelings and preserving their reputations in their communities are rights guaranteed by Islam, threatening severe consequences and significant punishment for those who violate them. It pointed out that falsely classifying and accusing people is among the major sins and vile crimes that not only harm individuals and communities but also reflect the malice of those who engage in it.
The family of the Egyptian girl who committed suicide left a heartbreaking message due to the electronic blackmail, revealing painful details about the girl's character and the last moments of her life. The family of Basant Khaled Shehaby, who lived in the village of Kafr Ya'qub, near the city of Kafr El-Zayat in the Gharbia Governorate, told "Al-Arabiya.net" that their daughter took her life after being blackmailed with fabricated images and having her reputation damaged by two young men from the village, which drove her to end her life.
Her brothers stated that one young man had stolen a photo of their sister from her social media account and manipulated it into obscene pictures, attempting to extort her to enter into a romantic relationship. When she refused, he distributed and broadcast these fabricated images on social media and among young men in the village to force her into submission.
The brothers, who mentioned that Basant was only 16 years old and studying in the second year of Al-Azhar secondary school, said she was overwhelmed by a flood of hurtful comments and disapproving looks from some villagers, in addition to receiving shocking messages questioning her conduct, which she could not bear. They added that their family was shocked by her suicide after she consumed a toxic substance, leaving an emotional farewell message to her mother, asking her not to believe the rumors and lies about her character and behavior.
The brothers accused two men from the village of being involved in the crime, the first of whom had pressured her into a romantic relationship, while the second helped him promote and distribute the fabricated images. They confirmed that the Kafr El-Zayat prosecutor's office has summoned the two young men for investigation and has confiscated the girl's computer and the two men's phones.
The family demanded justice against the two young men whose unlawful behavior led to their daughter’s loss and suicide, emphasizing that they would not relinquish Basant’s rights, who fell victim to bullying and false rumors. Social media users have launched a hashtag titled "Basant's Right Must Return," sharing tragic details that have shaken Egyptian society, including the suicide of a girl after one individual attempted to blackmail her with fabricated obscene images.
Before her suicide, the girl left a message to her mother saying: "Mom, I wish you’d understand that I'm not that girl, and these are manipulated images, I swear to God that's not me. I am just a small girl who does not deserve what is happening to me; I genuinely have depression. I can't handle this anymore; I'm suffocating; I am really tired."
This incident has provoked widespread anger, with social media users demanding swift punishment for the two men and others involved, as well as the enactment of fair and strict legislation to deter anyone who would exploit social media and modern technology to commit such crimes.
