Egyptian Sufi sheikh arrested over alleged sexual harassment

A Sufi religious leader in Egypt was detained on Friday on charges of sexual harassment after a woman alleged she was sent a sexually explicit photo by him without her consent.

Sheikh Salah Eddin al-Tijani, will be referred to the Public Prosecution Office after his arrest for a full-scale investigation, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior.

The case has generated significant controversy in Egypt.  

On Tuesday, the alleged victim took to social media to publicly accuse al-Tijani of sexual misconduct, a claim that has since gained widespread attention across the country.

At the time of her post, however, no formal complaint had been filed.

In her social media post, the woman stated that al-Tijani's actions deeply disturbed her, particularly given that her family views him as close to them. 

She also described the impact of the incident, saying, "The Sheikh destroyed my life and I am still recovering from the trauma he caused me." 

The woman expressed frustration that despite her warnings, her family continues to support al-Tijani unconditionally. 

 Al-Tijani has responded by filing a defamation complaint against the woman and her father, alleging they have harmed his reputation. 

According to Egyptian social media, the victim’s mother has publicly contested her daughter’s claims by sharing links that criticise the victim’s credibility and suggesting she suffers from a mental disorder related to school bullying. 

As legal proceedings are ongoing, both al-Tijani and the woman are under further investigation by the Public Prosecution. 

Following the woman’s viral post, the Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA) announced on Thursday that it had received complaints from three other women alleging both online and physical harassment by al-Tijani.  

CEWLA lawyer Nada Nashaat noted that the victims, including one individual under 21 years of age, reported similar harassment methods used by the Sheikh.  

She added that the centre is currently working to provide legal support to the victims and collect evidence for potential legal action.  

In response, the Sheikhdom of the Tijaniyya Order said it has distanced itself from al-Tijani, describing him as a self-proclaimed sheikh who misleads young Muslims in Cairo’s Imbaba district and is not recognised as a scholar. 

Al-Tijani, known for his writings on religious and Sufi subjects, was previously affiliated with the Tijaniyya order but established his own “Tijaniyya Salahiyya Order” in 2000 after internal disputes.  

He has garnered a following both off and online in Egypt, including local celebrities who support his teachings. 

Sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue in Egypt, with a 2013 UN study reporting that 99.3% of Egyptian women and girls have experienced some form of harassment in their lives. 

Egypt ranks second in the world, after Afghanistan, on the issue of sexual misconduct against women and girls.