Crime in Egypt

During the 1980s, Petty crime was a significant problem in Egypt.[2] Theft and pickpocketing were widespread in the capital city Cairo.[2] Motor vehicle theft, crime by women and juveniles and incidents of kidnappings were increased in Cairo in 1988.[2] In an interview in 1989, the director of security for Cairo described poor economic conditions, high unemployment, population growth, and changes in social norms as the reasons behind higher crime rates.[2] Bank robberies, gang violence, and other violent crime were less common.[2]

Sadat established commissions for investigation of corruption among government officials.[2] Mubarak replaced many cabinet members for inability in detecting corruption.[2] Despite such measures, economic crimes continued to be widespread.[2]

Law enforcement have been reported to be dangerously corrupt, making affiliations with tuktuk and taxi drivers to break traffic laws for a charge. Also, making false warrants and unlawful arrests on suspects who are filed with cases made by paying rivals.

Rape is one of the most common crimes in Egypt.[3] The Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights (ECWR) has called the problem "social cancer" and suggested that dress code is not deterrent at all. ECWR carried out a survey in 2008 which found that 83 percent of Egyptian women and 98 percent of foreign women within Egypt had experienced sexual harassment at some time, and only 12% had gone to police for complaining such issue.[4]

Mass rapes have been carried out during festivals and the Egyptian protests, and include the public rapes of women, and female journalists.[5]

Drug trafficking is a problem. Egypt is a country for cannabis, heroin and opium destined for Europe, Israel, and North Africa.[6]

Egypt serves as a transit country for women trafficked from Eastern Europe to Israel for commercial sexual exploitation.[6] Men and women from countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are believed to be trafficked through the Sinai Desert to Israel and Europe for labor.[6] Many Egyptian children from rural areas are trafficked to other areas in Egypt as domestic servants or laborers in the agriculture industry.[6]

Egypt suffers from religious violence and terrorism, in frequent attacks both on tourist and on religious minorities. Notable examples include the Luxor massacre (1997), the 2004 Sinai bombings, 2005 attacks in Cairo and in Sharm el-Sheikh, the 2006 Dahab bombings and the 2011 Alexandria bombing.