A report against an Egyptian teacher after he insulted Hoda Shaarawy and Safia Zaghloul

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A circulating video clip of an Egyptian history teacher in Alexandria Governorate sparked widespread controversy on social media, after he appeared during one of his lectures talking about the pioneers of the Egyptian women’s movement, Hoda Shaarawi and Safia Zaghloul, using phrases that sparked criticism because of the way he addressed their historical role in issues of women’s liberation and participation in public life.

The controversy coincided with the submission of an official report against the teacher and those in charge of the private tutoring centers where he works, while an official source at the Ministry of Education and Technical Education explained that the teacher is not currently working within the ministry’s force.

Dr. Hani Sameh, a lawyer, submitted a report to the Prime Minister regarding the teacher’s circulated statements, demanding an investigation into the content of the video and an examination of the educational activity it presents, in addition to verifying the conditions of the private tutoring centers associated with it.

According to the published details of the report, the author accused the teacher of exploiting the educational process to spread ideas that he described as extremist and exclusionary, and insulting the symbols of the national struggle, led by Hoda Shaarawi and Safia Zaghloul.

The report also called for the intervention of the Ministries of Interior and Education, investigating the private tutoring centers to which the teacher is affiliated, examining their licenses and the extent of the legality of teaching practice within them, in addition to reviewing his lectures, recordings, electronic platforms, academic qualifications and professional status, as well as examining the extent to which the relevant legal texts apply to the facts in question, and referring the violations resulting from the investigations to the competent judicial authorities.

The accusations contained in the report remain subject to examination, and do not in themselves mean that a crime has been proven or a judicial ruling has been issued against the teacher.

The teacher appeared in the circulating clip while explaining the lesson “Women’s Liberation” to high school students, speaking about Hoda Shaarawi and Safia Zaghloul in terms in which he criticized their role in the women’s movement. He also compared them to the Egyptian journalist Radwa El-Sherbiny, and addressed women’s participation in demonstrations, work, and public life.

Al-Mudarres touched on Tahrir Square, linking its name to the liberation of women from the face covering, in a novel that raised objections regarding its historical accuracy.

The spread of the clip led to renewed discussion about the method of addressing national figures in private lessons, and the distinction between historical facts and the personal opinions presented by the teacher during the explanation.

In a clarification regarding the teacher’s connection to the government educational system, an official source at the Ministry of Education and Technical Education stated that he is not an employee of the ministry and does not currently hold a position within its workforce, explaining that the video was filmed during a private lesson in one of the lesson centers in Alexandria Governorate, according to what was published by Egyptian media, today, Saturday.

This means that the teacher is not currently working within the ministry’s force, according to the published statement, without this clarification alone resolving the legal responsibility for the statements or the outcome of the report submitted regarding them.

On the other hand, sources close to the teacher told Egyptian media today, Saturday, that the video circulating dates back about a year, and that some of the statements were taken out of context, according to her account.

She added that the teacher used a direct style and sarcastic expressions while explaining the lessons, and that he did not intend to offend the two historical figures.

According to available published information, the result of an official investigation has not been announced to resolve this story or determine responsibility for the content of the video.

Hoda Shaarawi is considered one of the most prominent pioneers of the Egyptian women's movement. She contributed to the founding of the Egyptian Women's Union in 1923, and her activity was also linked to calling for women's education and participation in public life.

As for Safia Zaghloul, the wife of leader Saad Zaghloul, her name was associated with the 1919 Revolution and the National Movement, and she was known as the “Mother of the Egyptians.” Her house also became the headquarters for meetings of a number of symbols of the National Movement during that stage.

The incident re-highlighted the responsibility of educational content providers for the accuracy of the historical information they present to students, and the importance of relying on reliable documents and references when dealing with national figures, while leaving the decision on the reported accusations to the competent authorities.