Fatima Fouad, former director of Barzakh, publicly accused regional musician Bashar Suleiman and Beirut-based Egyptian singer Aya Metwalli of drugging and raping her on December thirty first, 2019.
Fatima Fouad determined to step ahead this week to reveal them, releasing a press release on the night of June twenty seventh on her social media platforms narrating the sexual assault inflicted on her by Metwalli and Suleiman.
She addressed her assertion as “a public service announcement” to the media in its totally different classes, the leisure business in its totally different branches, and all establishments, associations, and feminist, creative, and cultural organizations.
“As God is my witness, that is my testimony,” she mentioned in her put up during which she narrated the tragic drama that has triggered a wave of shock.
On the evening of December thirty first, 2019, Fatima Fouad was working a shift because the director of Barzakh, an area library and occasional store in Hamra, the place a gap occasion was being organized in collaboration with Ma3azef and Ballroom Blitz.
Fatima had her first encounter with Bashar Suleiman throughout soundcheck when he got here as much as her whereas in mid-conversation with one other taking part musician and mentioned, “Now we have work to do, you possibly can fuck her later.”
Angered by Suleiman’s obscene remark, Fatima threatened to finish his gig for the evening if he continues to behave disrespectfully.
She tried to keep away from him for the remainder of the evening however he persevered in following her round, attempting to provoke dialog.
At a sure second, allegedly eager to apologize to her for his earlier insult, Suleiman crossed the road once more, making bodily contact by touching her waist. Fatima screamed at him and went to inform quite a few her buddies in regards to the incident.
Later that evening, after the efficiency of Aya Metwalli, Suleiman approached Fatima once more, telling her that Metwalli requested to see her.
When she met with Metwalli, the latter started flirting and “requested” if she may kiss her. “I agreed, embarrassed and reluctant,” mentioned Fatima in her testimony.
All through the evening, Fatima and Metwalli exchanged a number of kisses and small talks till Metwalli forcefully drugged her with MDMA, a drug “recognized to have an effect on mobility and focus”.
“Dizzy and nauseous” from the drug and alcohol, Fatima sat on the steps till she was approached by each Suleiman and Metwalli who dragged her upstairs. Suleiman repeatedly hit Fatima whereas raping her.
“He lifted my costume and hit me violently on my backside and ripped my stockings. I keep in mind vividly the sound of the smacks, and the tearing of the material,” Fatima expressed in her assertion. “I dissociated from my physique as if I had been observing myself from above,” she continued.
A couple of days following the incident, Metwalli and Fatima met in a gathering organized at Barzakh with two members of Ma3azef. Metwalli tried to color herself as an harmless sufferer through the use of Fatima’s sexuality towards her.
After Fatima’s testimony went public, Metwalli reportedly claimed that she is “additionally a sufferer.”
961News tried to succeed in each Bashar Suleiman and Aya Metwalli for feedback to no avail.
The managing group at Ma3azef disregarded at first Fatima Fouad’s testimony and reportedly insisted on overlaying Suleiman’s acts. Ma3azef’s supervisor Maen Abou Taleb reportedly pressured lots of his staff, which in the end led to divisions amongst them.
Ma3azef then issued a press release of solidarity with Fatima Fouad, condemning the crime inflicted on her.
Ballroom Blitz and Barzakh took directly the correct stance in response to Fatima’s public testimony, issuing a press release in her assist, expressing their shock, condemning the assault, and chopping ties with Ma3azef and the accused artists.
“Now we have a collective accountability to make our artistic industries and areas protected for everybody,” the Ballroom Blitz burdened.
