Over the last few days, Arab social media users have been shocked by four different crimes that took place in four Arab countries. Reacting to the crimes that have been unfolding every other day, more voices than ever are now calling on their governments to tighten criminal codes, and to execute individuals convicted of murder, such voiced were supported by the Queen of Jordan.
Translation: "How can we undo this heinous crime? How can we mend your parents’ shattered hearts? How can we keep our children safe from the brutality of criminals who lack the most basic morals? An unspeakable atrocity in every respect. Our hearts go out to you. You are the son of every Jordanian home, and I stand with the voices that call for the fullest punishment of the perpetrators."
Two days ago, Jordanians were struck by a video that showed a 16-year old boy who has been brutally attacked by a group of men using guns and white weapons, cutting his hands and severely injuring his eyes, in what has been described as a revenge crime.
I’m also blaming the Jordanian government for releasing them from jail. One of them has 200+ recorded crimes the other has 300+. They’re all part of a gang called التش. One of them is a known drug dealer in zarqa. All this and they’re still wandering around the streets of Jordan.
— layann (@l_layanfaress) October 14, 2020
According to unverified local media reports, the teenager's father had killed one of the men's' relatives, a crime for which he is spending time in jail.
An initial statement by the Jordanian security forces has revealed that the main suspect in the crime has been arrested along with four other men and that he already has a criminal record of more than 172 arrests, which triggered more outrage amongst Jordanians who questioned the reason he was out of prison in the first place.
Police investigations are yet to reveal the full story once announced by officials.
However, the graphic details of the crime and the video that went viral shortly before the government took it down and prohibited sharing it via the internet have sent anger waves across the country and the region, as people called on authorities to consider more severe punishments for similar crimes.
Occurred in EGYPT
— Free Woman | امرأة حره ♀️ (@Selene8899) October 15, 2020
Mariam was leaving her work and walking home when three men in a car started harassing her !
She was trying to defend herself with her bag then they dragged her for several meters on the asphalt using their car until her death💔#حق_فتاة_المعادي#حق_مريم_فين pic.twitter.com/seRhZO0yE3
Only the next day, Egyptian social media reported the death of a 20-something-year-old woman who had been harassed by a number of men driving a mini-van before she was fatally run over by them. While investigations are yet to reveal whether the perpetrators were sexually harassing Mariam or trying to snatch her purse in an attempted robbery, social media platforms have flooded in calls to persecute the driver and his companions, which resulted in two arrests.
so we're gonna ignore the fact the she was STEPPED OVER WITH A BUS and KILLED and argue whether she was sexually harassed or not?#حق_مريم_فين #حق_فتاة_المعادي https://t.co/3aoUjtULpb
— vero (@ver0thedancer) October 15, 2020
that “GIRL” is named MARIAM MOHAMED & she did not lose her life she was HARASSED, DRAGGED, and MURDERED on CONCRETE ASPHALT by three men in Cairo. Say her name. SAY HER NAME. https://t.co/3wtEY2saYj
— أندرو🏳️ (@maybepharaoh) October 14, 2020
Online people in Tunisia have also heavily tweeted in demand of a stricter penal code after a Tunisian young woman was raped and murdered by a young man who was arrested soon after the body was found.
Tunisian commentators argued that the Tunisian decision to halt death penalties is the main reason such crimes are on the rise in the country, calling on their government to reconsider the sentence for homicides.
TW// rape, murder, death
— 舒華 (@emodorkk) September 26, 2020
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yesterday in tunisia a young girl got abducted raped and killed she got abducted right in front of the her work place they found the rapist please enter this link and click on interested to get justice for her https://t.co/wtJZz0x4if pic.twitter.com/S126BCNLPU
In Algeria too, public outcry has been mounting after a series of murders have targeted women in different areas in the country, especially as bodies of at least four young women after they were raped, killed, and burned.
Another 32 years old woman got killed and burned today in Setif, Algeria.
— Ikram Laimeche (@ikram_laimeche) October 8, 2020
It's terrifying how the situation is getting hard each day.#Algeria