“Egypt’s next national security threat: all the single ladies?” (Rami Galal, Al-Monitor)
“Col. Ashraf Gamal, a member of the National Security Council, told Al-Monitor in this regard, ‘There is a phenomenon that has become an issue of national security, insofar as it constitutes a threat to the institution and stability of the Egyptian family, owing to the negative psychological effects it has on the family. Among its other negative ramifications for national security are the proliferation of crimes of rape and sexual harassment, which stem from sexual frustration or [people] entering into illicit [sexual] relations. As a result of this, another phenomenon -- no less dangerous -- has arisen: Egypt’s “street children.” [And another consequence has been] the spread of theft in order to raise the necessary dowry payments required for marriage….The current National Security Council has a new, unconventional vision. We believe that the concept of national security must be more broadly conceived than just what affects the army, the interior or homeland security. Our broader notion of national security is to not concentrate solely on the center and neglect the periphery that feeds the center. Everything -- both small and large -- that affects Egyptian society is the concern of national security. Our role will not be limited to the issues of spinsterism; rather, we have plans for the return of values and morals to Egyptian society. One might say, “What business are values and morals of yours? You’re not responsible for society.” But to them I would say that if old Egyptian values and morals returned, the crime rate would decline. For example, the Egyptian woman used to wear whatever clothes she liked -- whether they were short or provocative -- without it resulting in sexual harassment. And that was because society was once blessed with values that -- among other things -- stipulated that a man would never accost women in the street.’”
“Col. Ashraf Gamal, a member of the National Security Council, told Al-Monitor in this regard, ‘There is a phenomenon that has become an issue of national security, insofar as it constitutes a threat to the institution and stability of the Egyptian family, owing to the negative psychological effects it has on the family. Among its other negative ramifications for national security are the proliferation of crimes of rape and sexual harassment, which stem from sexual frustration or [people] entering into illicit [sexual] relations. As a result of this, another phenomenon -- no less dangerous -- has arisen: Egypt’s “street children.” [And another consequence has been] the spread of theft in order to raise the necessary dowry payments required for marriage….The current National Security Council has a new, unconventional vision. We believe that the concept of national security must be more broadly conceived than just what affects the army, the interior or homeland security. Our broader notion of national security is to not concentrate solely on the center and neglect the periphery that feeds the center. Everything -- both small and large -- that affects Egyptian society is the concern of national security. Our role will not be limited to the issues of spinsterism; rather, we have plans for the return of values and morals to Egyptian society. One might say, “What business are values and morals of yours? You’re not responsible for society.” But to them I would say that if old Egyptian values and morals returned, the crime rate would decline. For example, the Egyptian woman used to wear whatever clothes she liked -- whether they were short or provocative -- without it resulting in sexual harassment. And that was because society was once blessed with values that -- among other things -- stipulated that a man would never accost women in the street.’”
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