The Cairo Appeals Court upheld a three-year prison sentence for the defendant, Noha Raouf Michel Iskander, known in the media as Noha El Dekr, in a human trafficking case. She was found guilty of exploiting underage girls for work in a nightclub and using them in activities contrary to public morals.

Noha El Dekr’s appeal rejected; 3-year prison sentence upheld in human trafficking case

The court’s reasoning revealed that the defendant committed the crime of human trafficking by exploiting a number of underage girls, recruiting them to work inside a nightclub in exchange for money. She exploited their state of vulnerability, need, and young age with the aim of achieving material benefits through unlawful means.

The court clarified that the defendant rented and managed a nightclub in a hotel, effectively running it from behind the scenes with the help of a number of her employees. The girls were employed in inappropriate activities contrary to values and the law, in exchange for daily sums ranging between 400 and 500 Egyptian pounds, with the defendant receiving a share of the financial returns.

The reasoning indicated that the victim girls confirmed during investigations that the defendant was fully aware of their young ages and difficult living conditions and exploited this to employ them inside the club. They affirmed that she was responsible for managing the place, organizing the work, and collecting the money.

The court relied on investigations by the General Administration for the Protection of Public Morals, which confirmed the validity of the incident. The girls were apprehended inside the nightclub while working, and when confronted, they acknowledged the defendant’s role in exploiting them.

Following an order from the Public Prosecution, the defendant was apprehended. A sum of money and mobile phones were found in her possession, which were proven to be proceeds from the activity in question.

The court rejected the defense’s arguments regarding the absence of the crime’s elements and the lack of seriousness of the investigations. It confirmed that the crime of human trafficking is established by exploiting a state of vulnerability and need, and that the illegality of the act is not negated by the victims’ consent, especially given that they were proven to be minors.

The court affirmed that the crimes attributed to the defendant were interconnected in an indivisible manner, which necessitated considering them as a single crime and imposing the most severe penalty, while applying a measure of leniency within the limits of Article 17 of the Penal Code.

The court concluded its reasoning by confirming that the evidence was conclusive and comprehensive, and that all elements of the crime of human trafficking were present, which warranted imposing the aforementioned penalty.

Cairo Appeals Court

The Cairo Appeals Court is a major judicial institution in Egypt, established in the late 19th century during the modernization of the country’s legal system. It serves as a key appellate body, reviewing decisions from lower courts and handling significant civil, criminal, and commercial cases, reflecting Egypt’s blend of civil law and Islamic legal traditions.

General Administration for the Protection of Public Morals

The General Administration for the Protection of Public Morals is a Saudi Arabian government agency, often referred to as the “religious police” or *Haia*. Historically, its mandate was to enforce strict interpretations of Islamic law in public, monitoring behavior and dress. Its powers and public presence have been significantly reduced in recent years as part of the kingdom’s social and economic reforms under Vision 2030.

Public Prosecution

The Public Prosecution is a legal institution, not a specific cultural site, responsible for representing the state in criminal proceedings. Its modern form, as an independent branch of the judiciary separate from the police and courts, developed primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries, with historical roots in figures like the French *procureur* or the English Attorney General. Its core function is to investigate crimes, decide on prosecutions, and uphold the law in the public interest.

Penal Code

The Penal Code is not a specific place or cultural site, but a legal document that codifies the criminal laws of a jurisdiction. Its history generally traces back to ancient legal systems, with modern codes like the French Napoleonic Code (1810) and the German Penal Code (1871) serving as influential models for many countries. These codes systematically define crimes and their corresponding punishments, evolving over time to reflect changing societal values.