The Egyptian Public Prosecution Office in Giza Governorate has conducted extensive investigations with Sufi Sheikh Salah Eddin al-Tijani and his alleged victim “Khadija. Kh”, after police arrested Tijani in the early hours of Friday morning over charges of sexual harassment.
These investigations come as part of the Public Prosecution Office’s efforts to uncover the circumstances of the case that sparked wide controversy after Khadija accused Tijani of sending her an indecent photo.
The first claims
The controversy began when Khadija, an architect living in Russia, published a post on her personal Facebook account accusing Tijani of sexually harassing her.
She claimed that Tijani had sent her an inappropriate photo via a private chat, which greatly upset her – especially since her family considers the Sheikh close to them.
In the post, Khadija wrote: “The Sheikh destroyed my life, and I am still recovering from the trauma he caused me,” noting even after she repeatedly warned her family about the Sheikh’s actions they continue to follow and support him blindly.
Quick reactions
It didn’t take long before the story went viral on social media, where public opinion was divided between those who supported Khadija and others who defended Tijani.
Hashtags related to the case topped the trend and the public began to wonder about the truth of the accusations, which prompted the prosecution to intervene and open an official investigation into the incident.
Tijani defends himself
Tijani denied all the accusations against him, claiming that Khadija suffers from psychological problems and that what she accuses him of is not based on any evidence.
He confirmed that the relationship between him and Khadija’s family has been good for many years, and that he had received personal complaints from her about her life’s problems.
Tijani filed a lawsuit against Khadija accusing her of slander, libel and defamation, insisting that he would take all legal measures to protect his reputation, which he describes as “pure”.
Who is Salah Eddin al-Tijani?
Sheikh Salah Eddin al-Tijani was born in 1958 in Sayyida Zeinab district of Cairo, and is known for authoring many books on religious and Sufi sciences.
Tijani was previously a follower of the Tijaniyya order, but he broke away from it in 2000 due to internal differences, and then established his own order known as the “Tijaniyya Salahiyya Order.”
He enjoys great popularity and has many disciples who follow his teachings.
Statements from Khadija’s parents
In an unexpected development, Khadija’s mother came out to defending Sheikh Tijani, saying that her daughter had not complained of any previous harassment during her dealings with him.
The mother said that Khadija considered the Sheikh like a father and did not show any signs of anxiety or reservation with him.
These statements opened door of questions about the veracity of the accusations directed at the Sheikh.
The Tijaniyya order’s response
The Tijaniyya order in Egypt intervened and issued an official statement announcing that Sheikh Salah Eddin al-Tijani does not represent it in any way.
It explained that Tijani “is in a circle of suspicions” and that he “does not carry the banner of the Tijaniyya order” as he claims, and called on Muslims to beware of being deceived by him.
Sheikh garners support and controversy
The case raised big questions about the sheikh’s status, especially since he has many followers and disciples from within the artistic and cultural community in Egypt – including the likes of Somaia al-Khashab, Fifi Abdo, and Ahmed Saad, in addition to Abdel-Rahim Kamal, Nasser Abdel-Rahman, and more.
While some expressed their absolute support for the Sheikh, a wave of criticism was from others demanding a transparent investigation to reveal the truth.
