For days now, social media users in Egypt have been discussing the latest developments revealed by the Public Prosecution regarding the Shubra El-Kheima child murder case. This case is the first to be associated with the “dark web,” where the 15-year-old Ahmed was violently killed by a neighbor, who was lured by large sums of money to film the murder and harvest organs from the victim.
Based on available information, the crime has an economic dimension. The killer aimed to earn five million Egyptian pounds by filming the act and selling it on the “dark web” for a substantial profit. However, he failed to attract new victims, and the child’s disappearance led to the revelation of the crime.
Daily incidents indicate a recent rise in crime rates in Egypt. These crimes vary from murder, kidnapping, blackmail, and theft to fraud. Their motives and circumstances differ, but the main question is: why do these rates continue to rise despite stringent security measures?
Crime is a widespread issue in various social strata in Egypt, deeply affecting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. While its causes are complex and multifaceted, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting a strong link between crime rates and poverty levels. Poverty is often cited as a major factor in perpetuating criminal behavior, as individuals lacking access to essential resources and opportunities may resort to illegal activities for survival.
According to the 2024 crime index from Numbeo, Egypt ranked 18th among African countries with a crime rate of 47.3 on the index, 65th globally, and third in the Arab world due to the prevalence of various crimes. However, numerous factors can contribute to the increasing crime rates in Egypt, including social, economic, and cultural factors. A study by FasterCapital, a business incubator and accelerator, identified major contributing factors: unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, social isolation, and economic pressures leading to higher poverty rates and the erosion of social classes. These factors can create a sense of despair, potentially leading to criminal behavior and increased crime rates.
According to the labor force survey results for the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2023 by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the unemployment rate reached 6.9%. The labor force was estimated at 31.101 million citizens, down from 31.956 million in the previous quarter, a decline of 2.7%. The unemployment rate among males was approximately 4.6% of the male labor force, while it was 17.7% among females.
Despite Cairo’s ranking as the 18th in Africa and third in the Arab world for high crime rates, official narratives refute international indices. In October 2023, Interior Minister Mohamed Tawfik stated at the “Nation’s Story” conference that crime rates had significantly decreased in recent years. Major crimes in 2023 had dropped by 73% compared to 2013 and by 9% compared to 2010, which the minister described as a record.
Tawfik added that the detection rate for crimes had risen from 57% in 2013 to 95% in 2023. Misdemeanor crimes had decreased by 58% in 2023 compared to 2013 and by 12% compared to 2010. He noted that the detection rate for these crimes in 2013 was 20%, and it is now 84%, a record achieved by the Ministry of Interior.
In 2017, the Ministry of Interior reported that premeditated murder crimes had increased by 130%, armed robbery by 350%, car theft by 500%, and the number of “thugs” had risen to 92,680 individuals, with the number of “dangerous registrants” increasing by 55%, aside from those not officially registered. Kidnapping for ransom cases had reached 400 in 2016, and theft rates had quadrupled, from five thousand to about 21 thousand cases.
Poor Economic Conditions Increase Crime Rates
The neighbor committed his crime and then searched for the missing child with the family and neighbors. When the security forces discovered the crime, the investigations led to the perpetrator, who was arrested and confessed to the crime in detail, aiming to obtain millions of pounds by selling the video on these secret websites. He preferred quick money to escape the extreme poverty he was living in.
Therefore, poor economic and living conditions are significant reasons for the spread of theft and fraud crimes. This comes at a time when the unemployment rate in Egypt has reached about 6.9% of the total labor force, with 2.159 million unemployed (1.165 million males, 994 thousand females), according to the latest CAPMAS data. Additionally, the Egyptian pound has seen a substantial decline against the US dollar and major foreign currencies in recent months, exacerbated by the Central Bank’s recent decision to fully float the currency.
Psychologist Walid Hindi explained to “Zawia3” that the economic situation greatly impacts an individual’s self-perception, ambition, and general behavior, leading to crimes, according to Karl Marx and Engels’ theory on the economic aspects of crime. They highlighted the significant impact of a country’s economic conditions on crime types and rates.
Hindi stated that inflation, privatization, recession, low wages, and rising prices in Egypt affect the nature and type of crimes due to financial pressures that generate value conflicts, pushing individuals toward criminal behavior. Poverty, deprivation, and limited opportunities are external pressures that drive some to commit crimes. Economic disruption in a country leads to phenomena like rising unemployment rates and the emergence of new social classes, resulting in new types of crimes previously unseen. These classes’ ideas, behavior, aspirations, and economic motivations create different types of crimes.
Hindi listed crimes resulting from economic conditions, including theft, fraud, bribery, honor crimes, prostitution, embezzlement of public funds, drug trafficking, and youth resorting to illegal migration due to economic pressures, leading to various crimes that threaten social peace (such as cybercrimes of all kinds).
Social Media
A heated debate has emerged in Egypt following the incident where the girl, Habiba El-Shammaa, jumped from a car belonging to a ride-sharing company, causing severe injuries and leading to a coma and her eventual death. The driver was accused of attempting to kidnap her.
A study by researchers at the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, on the impact of economic conditions on rising crime rates, identified it as a factor explaining certain types of crimes and deviations by individuals and groups.
Fathi Kanawi, a crime detection professor at the National Center for Social and Criminal Research, agrees with the study, explaining that economic factors are significant in committing crimes in Egyptian society, especially alongside other factors like environment and circumstances surrounding the perpetrator. He told “Zawia3” that social media and networking sites are primary reasons for increasing crime rates, as many detailed crime videos make it easier for individuals to commit and repeat these crimes.
Kanawi pointed out that most individuals committing crimes for economic reasons suffer from abnormal conditions like drug addiction or unemployment. Most of these crimes occur similarly in many societies, reflecting the circumstances of the perpetrators (clearly seen in Habiba El-Shammaa’s case, where the driver, according to official data, had a history of drug use and multiple complaints).
He noted that the primary reason for committing crimes is the moral decay of society, with the absence of proper upbringing by families, schools (Ministry of Education), and religious institutions (Ministry of Awqaf).
Controlling and Regulating Crimes
Another crime motivated by drugs involved a husband killing his wife, named Hiam A., in their home in a village in Kafr El-Sheikh after an argument. The husband strangled his wife on the third day of Ramadan and reported the incident to the authorities. Investigations revealed that the husband frequently threatened his wife due to his drug use, leading to strange and violent behavior.
A study on the impact of economic and social changes on juvenile delinquency, published in the Scientific Journal of Business and Commercial Research, suggested various approaches to address crime and poverty rates. Effective solutions include increasing access to education, vocational training, and resources to help individuals build skills and improve economic prospects. Investment in mental health programs and substance abuse treatment can address underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior. Increasing community policing and support can create a sense of safety and security, potentially reducing crime rates.
Heba Al-Issawy, a professor of psychiatry at Ain Shams University, told “Zawia3” about short-term plans for psychological screening of personality disorders and drug abuse in adolescents and youth during different educational stages. Long-term plans involve raising awareness across various community groups and providing numerous outlets to support mental health, whether through hospitals or hotlines offering guidance and support to individuals facing psychological issues and pressures that might lead them to commit crimes, especially under difficult economic conditions.
Al-Issawy also highlighted the importance of emphasizing the punishments for crimes, whether economically motivated or not, to warn those with criminal tendencies. Publicizing punishments plays a crucial role in deterring crimes and regulating them among different groups. This approach is more effective than simply increasing the severity of punishments, as the swift implementation of the law and publicizing penalties are essential for reforming those with criminal tendencies.
