The North Cairo Criminal Court adjourned on Thursday, October 22, the trial of Beit Fatem founder Mohamed Abdel Hamid al-Taher, who faces charges of sexual assault and human trafficking, to November 14 for oral arguments at the defense’s request.

The court instructed his court-appointed lawyer to prepare for and attend the next hearing.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which represents one survivor as part of the legal team pursuing civil claims in the case, stresses the need to uphold the rights of all parties and respect the presumption of innocence. The survivors’ privacy and their right to seek justice without stigma or defamation must also be protected.

EIPR’s lawyer attended Thursday’s hearing and submitted case documents to the court. A lawyer for the defendant requested an adjournment to initiate proceedings to recuse the judicial panel, while a new defense lawyer requested time to prepare oral arguments.

The trial began on August 18, when EIPR requested a closed hearing to protect the survivors’ personal information. At the October 19 hearing, the prosecution presented its arguments, and lawyers representing the survivors as civil claimants sought the maximum penalty. The defendant’s lawyer requested time to initiate proceedings to recuse the presiding judge. The court instructed the press not to publish any information that could identify the survivors or compromise their privacy.

Hearings continued on October 20 and 21 without the recusal procedures being completed or the required fee paid, and in the absence of the defendant’s original lawyer. On October 21, the court appointed a lawyer to defend him.

Al-Taher is accused of trafficking four women for sexual exploitation through deception and abuse of their vulnerability, as well as sexually assaulting and sexually harassing one of them. The charges also include violating the women’s privacy, violating Egyptian family values, and creating and managing social media accounts to commit the alleged offenses.

The prosecution’s evidence list included statements from 15 witnesses, including the survivors, a medical consultant’s opinion, and technical reports on examinations of electronic devices and digital material related to the investigation. It also included police and anti-human-trafficking investigators’ findings, along with responses to inquiries sent to mobile phone companies and the Journalists Syndicate.

EIPR acknowledges the efforts of the authorities investigating and hearing the case. It stands in solidarity with the survivors, both those pursuing legal proceedings and those prevented by social stigma and other barriers from disclosing what they experienced or seeking justice.

Protecting survivors must extend beyond keeping their personal information confidential during the trial. It must also include protection from stigma, defamation, pressure and retaliation, alongside access to legal, psychological and social support.

EIPR calls for the protection and assistance guarantees under the Anti-Human Trafficking Law to be put into practice. Survivors’ rights to compensation and reparation for material and nonmaterial harm must be upheld, with due regard for their needs and circumstances.

Justice in cases of sexual violence and exploitation requires rigorous judicial proceedings and effective protection, enabling survivors to secure their rights without discrimination, violations of their privacy or additional social burdens arising from their decision to seek justice.