Al Azhar verurteilt sexuelle Belästigung von Frauen
Egypt's top Islamic authority has issued a statement strongly condemned sexual harassment, blasting it as "a forbidden act and deviant behaviour".
The al-Azhar statement comes amid continued debate and discussion on the issue in Egypt, where blame for harassment and sexual assault is often placed on victims.
"Criminalising sexual harassment must be absolute and free from any condition or context," the statement released on Monday said.
"Justifying sexual harassment with the behaviour or clothing of the woman is a misunderstanding, for sexual harassment is an assault on the woman and her freedom and dignity," it added.
Some 60 percent of women in Egypt said they had been victims of some form of sexual harassment during their lifetimes, according to a 2017 report from the UN Women and Promundo.