The Egyptian prosecution referred a 35-year-old man for trial on Monday evening on charges of raping a 20-month-old child in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahliya. The suspect was arrested by police on the same day as the alleged incident and has confessed to the crime, say prosecutors. The suspect, who was the victim's neighbour, allegedly kidnapped the child on Friday as she was playing in front of her house in Belqas village, taking her to a secluded area and raping her, according to investigations conducted by the prosecution. The child was later found by residents and taken to Belqas Central Hospital, where she received emergency surgery for vaginal bleeding. She was later released from hospital. Shortly after the incident, which has sparked anger across the country, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported that residents of the village attempted to burn down the house of the suspect, who lives alone. On Saturday, the National Council for Women, Daqahliya branch, issued a statement demanding the maximum penalty for the defendant. The council is set to hold a meeting to discuss providing aid to the child and her family.
