Fired For Belly-dancing Video, This Egyptian Teacher Has A New Job Offer Now
A video showing Aya Yousef went viral on the internet, resulting in an online backlash. But, she was offered a job by the head of the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights.
An Egyptian woman schoolteacher's story went viral after a video of her belly dancing with her colleagues during a cruise on a Nile river surfaced on the internet. The video sparked anger among conservatives in the country.
A native of Mansoura city, Aya Youssef was reportedly sacked from her job and was also divorced by her husband days after being fired as an Arabic teacher at a primary school in Dakahlia province.
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The footage that was widely shared online shows her wearing a headscarf, a full-sleeved blouse and trousers as she danced with male colleagues.
In a statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Youssef told Egypt Independent: ¡°My life was destroyed because of the video from an unscrupulous person who tried to tarnish my reputation and brought the camera close to me only to show me in a bad manner. I really made a mistake because I was happy and played with people who were not honest. People bullied and insulted me. I lost my job, my husband, my home, and my mother got sick. My family was impacted by what happened.¡±
However, while a conservative section of the society was busy criticising the teacher for her dancing, she also found support from the women's rights advocates of Egypt who raised their voices against the issue.
The head of the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights, Dr Nihad Abu Qumsan, offered to help her file a complaint against wrongful dismissal, while a deputy director of a secondary school in Egypt shared photos of herself dancing at her daughter's wedding.
After a wave of support in her favour, local authorities have appointed Ms Youssef as an Arabic teacher at a new school. "The decision of the Education Directorate in Daqahlia to return me to my work made me feel that part of my life began to return to its nature and that part of my dignity was recovered," she said.
Youssef who is a mother of three has no source of income after the divorce and mentioned how people also lashed at her parents for raising her wrong. She also mentioned how she was just being spontaneous and having fun in an open space where everyone else was laughing relaxing.
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