Egypt releases Somali girl killed tuktuk driver in self-defence during rape attempt

CAIRO - Egypt’s Public Prosecution ordered on Friday the release of a Somali girl pending an investigation after police and medical examinations pointed to the plausibility of her argument of self-defense against a rape attempt by a slain tuk-tuk driver.

According to the prosecution, on 17 May, the prosecution received reports that the body of a dead tuk-tuk driver was found on a street on the outskirts of 6 October City, Giza.

A Somali girl, who is reportedly a 15-year-old refugee, turned herself in at a police station, saying that she stabbed the driver and escaped the scene after he attempted to rape her.

The girl explained to the police that the driver of a tuk-tuk she had hired drove her to an uninhabited area and attempted to rape her at knife-point. She added that she resisted the attacker and sustained injuries to her fingers before she succeeded in snatching the knife and stabbing him with it before fleeing the scene.

The prosecution said that police and medical investigations showed the girl’s version of events is plausible.

The medical examination confirmed lacerations to the girl’s head and fingers, the prosecution said.

Meanwhile, an autopsy on the driver's body showed that the cause of death is consistent with the girl's version of events and with the use of the knife that was found, the prosecution added.

The Somali girl’s story has won widespread sympathy and support from users on Egyptian social media for defending herself after the news went viral, with many calling on prominent lawyers and the National Council for Women to defend her.