Suez, the woman in command accused of blocking the channel: “It was fake news.” To colleagues: do not give up – time.news

by time news

Marwa, the first female captain of the Egyptian ship, who at the time of the blockade of Suez, as first officer, in command of Aida IV, hundreds of miles away in Alexandria, begins to receive an avalanche of insults. On the web there are screen shots of a fake title in which it is stated that she is driving Ever Given and she is responsible for the disaster.


I thought I was being targeted perhaps because I am a successful woman in this field or because I am Egyptian, but I’m not sure, she explained to herself. Bbc after posting a video on his Instagram profile in which he explained that he had nothing to do with the Ever Given case.

The shipping sector, according to the International Maritime Organization, sees only 2 percent of women at sea. Marwa, 29 years of age. I have always loved the sea and I decided to join the merchant navy to imitate my brother, he continued. Although at the time the sector was completely closed to women in Egypt, she decided to take this path after a new law signed by the then Egyptian resident Hosni Mubarak. Throughout her career, Elselehdar says she has dealt with sexism at all times. On board, they were all elderly men with different mindsets, so it was hard to find like-minded people to communicate with, he says. it was hard to go through all this alone and get over it. And again: People in our society still don’t accept the idea that girls work at sea away from their families for a long time. But when you do what you love, you don’t need to seek everyone’s approval.

Upon graduation, Marwa became first officer in command of the Aida IV, the first ship to sail the newly expanded Suez Canal in 2015. At the time, she was the youngest and first female Egyptian captain to cross the waterway. In 2017 it was also mentioned by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during women’s day celebrations in Egypt. The same Al Sisi who sends young women to prison because they use Tik Tok to express themselves and the same Al Sisi who persecutes young people like Patrick Zaki.

When faced with those screenshots, Marwa was afraid for her work. And so it turns to Bbc. That fake article was in English, so it was read all over the world. The comments appeared under that fake news to encourage her. Many were negative about me uri, but many others showed support from ordinary people and people I work with, he explains. I decided to focus on all the support and love I am receiving, and my anger turned to gratitude. Also, it’s worth mentioning that I’ve become even more famous than before, she adds.

Marwa Elselehdar will take her final exam to become captain next month and hopes she can continue to be a role model for women in the industry. My message to women who want to be in the maritime field to fight for what you love and not let negative things affect you.

April 5, 2021 (change April 5, 2021 | 4:50 pm)

© Time.News

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