In landmark case, Egypt sends 13 to trial for sex assault

Officials in the office of Egypt’s top prosecutor say 13 men have been referred to trial for sexually assaulting women during a public rally, in what was possibly first implementation of tough new legislation against rampant sexual violence, according to the Associated Press.

See more: Seven arrested after Egypt sex assault video

The Saturday referral comes less than a week after a mob brutally attacked and sexually assaulted a group of women during celebrations following the inauguration of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

The speedy trial reflects a government push to address the issue. Harassment has long been a problem, but assaults have become more frequent and gruesome over the past three years, since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in 2011. Sisi visited one of the survivors in the hospital, apologizing and promising tough actions against the attackers.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Meanwhile on Saturday, video sharing site YouTube turned down an Egyptian request to remove from its website a video of a woman being sexually assaulted in Tahrir Square during a rally marking Sisi’s inauguration.

[With the Associated Press]