Justice postponed for five-year-old Zeina Arafah
Port Said Criminal Court postponed the trial for the case of five-year-old Zeina Arafah to February 16 due to the absence of both defendants for security reasons, state-owned news portal EgyNews reported.
The victim's family and several others gathered around the courthouse on Sunday demanding the quick implementation of justice against the accused. The court had previously ruled that there would be a final verdict given today, January 26.
In November, 17-year-old Mahmoud Kasbar and 15-year-old Alaa Gomaa lured young Zeina to the roof, allegedly intending to rape her. When the young girl resisted the brutal attack, her aggressors threw her from the rooftop.
More than 160,000 supporters have joined Facebook page “Kolena Zeina Arafah” (We are all Zeina Arafah), established in the memory of the five-year-old. The page aims to raise awareness about the case and is campaigning for a harsher sentence against the defendants, who stand a good chance of being freed due to their young age.
The National Council for Childhood & Motherhood has demanded harsher punishments for such crimes as a deterrent for potential perpetrators in the future.
Governor Sameh Qandeel named one of the main squares in Port Said after the victim in solidarity with her family.
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