Egyptian creator Esraa Gamal Al-Saqqa seeks Interior Ministry protection

Esraa Gamal Al-Saqqa, an Egyptian content creator residing in South Korea with her family, has issued an urgent appeal to the Egyptian Minister of Interior. She demanded immediate protection and legal action against individuals she accused of insulting, defaming, and slandering her and her relatives across social media platforms.

Nature of Online Harassment

In her plea, Al-Saqqa stated that the crisis began with verbal abuse directed at her and her late father. The situation escalated when her personal images were used and published with the intent to damage her reputation. She also reported receiving private messages containing explicit insults and direct threats, according to her account.

The influencer noted that these actions caused psychological harm and anxiety regarding the safety of herself and her family. She emphasized that her marriage to a Korean citizen and her residence outside Egypt do not diminish her rights as an Egyptian national. Al-Saqqa stressed that she has never insulted her homeland or Egyptian men, maintaining a commitment to representing Egypt honorably while abroad.

Legal Action Demands

Al-Saqqa called for the investigation of the accounts and messages she identified as sources of the abuse. She requested that authorities take legal measures under Law No. 175 of 2018, which governs the combating of information technology crimes. Additionally, she appealed to the Ministry of Interior to guide her on a formal and secure method for filing complaints and submitting evidence given her location outside the country.

She expressed confidence in the competent authorities to grant her justice and protect the rights of her daughters, who hold Egyptian nationality. This request comes amid widespread debate on Egyptian social media regarding marriages between Egyptian women and Chinese nationals, driven by reports of low-cost unions and associated legal and social concerns.

Context of Cross-Border Marriages

Critics have accused some young women of accepting marriage proposals from Chinese men who avoid marrying in their home country due to prohibitive costs. In China, traditional requirements include providing an apartment, a car, and a bride price known as "Caili." These expenses contrast sharply with the limited costs of cross-border marriages, which are reported to range between $500 and $3,500.