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The History Hour
The fight against sexual harassment in Egypt and Omar Sharif enters the world stage
The History Hour
Sep 20, 2025

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes, all with an Egyptian theme.

We find out more about the 2014 fight against sexual harassment. And we hear from Professor Nicola Pratt, an expert on Middle East feminism about the significance of that moment in the fight for women's rights.

Also, we go to the 1960s when antiquities were saved to make way for the Aswan High Dam on the River Nile. And recollections from Egypt's first free democratic presidential election in 2012. Plus, the woman who broke the convention of the role of a first lady to help change divorce laws. And finally, we remember the moment the egyptian actor Omar Sharif swept onto the world stage in Lawrence of Arabia.

Contributors: Engy Ghozlan - co-founder of HarassMap Professor Herman Bell - scientist Rabab El-Mahdi - chief strategist to one of Mohamed Morsi's rival candidates Jehan Sadat - wife of President Anwar Sadat who helped change divorce laws Archive recordings of Egyptian actor Omar Sharif

(Photo: Women at a protest in Cairo, Egypt, in 2014. Credit: Getty Images)

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The fight against sexual harassment in Egypt and Omar Sharif enters the world s...

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