Khalid al‑Balshi urges Egyptian journalists to protect victims’ privacy in “House of Fatim” case

Khalid al‑Balshi, the head of Egypt’s journalists syndicate, sent a circular to reporters urging strict adherence to professional and ethical standards when covering the case known in the media as “House of Fatim”. He warned that recent online coverage had, before being removed, disclosed the names or identifying details of the female victims, violating privacy protections and the journalists’ code of honor.

Al‑Balshi stressed that the role of the press is to expose the crime, not to expose the victims, and called for the removal of personal data from all reports, even when such information appears in official prosecutor investigations (case No 1271/2026, Qasr El‑Nile). He appealed to all media outlets to follow Egyptian law on what may be published, to avoid further harm, stigma, or interference with the judicial process.