In a case that defies logic, humanity, and basic decency, an Egyptian court sentenced a cemetery worker to just 15 years in prison for a crime so horrific it’s hard to comprehend: he dug up a woman’s grave, raped her dead body, and then set the cemetery on fire.

Yes, you read that right. Even in death, women are not safe.

The Crime: Desecration Beyond Words

The convicted man, identified as Mostafa Mahmoud, was a cemetery worker (turbay) in Helwan. According to court records, he deliberately targeted a recently buried woman who had died from COVID-19, dug up her grave, and raped her corpse.

As if that wasn’t enough, he set the cemetery on fire, burning both the grave and other human remains in what was described as an act of revenge against someone managing the burial grounds.

This wasn’t an impulsive act.

The details reveal a premeditated crime: he planned his attack, chose the right moment, and came prepared with flammable materials to erase evidence.

He didn’t just commit an unspeakable act against one victim—he attempted to destroy the final resting place of multiple people.

A 15-Year Sentence for This?

For an act that should shake anyone to their core, the punishment feels disturbingly light. A 15-year sentence in Egypt’s legal system often doesn’t even mean serving 15 full years—with good behavior and legal loopholes, sentences can be reduced.

The question is: how does this measure up to the crime?

This isn’t just about one case. It’s a terrifying reminder that women are not safe, even in their graves. That even after death, their bodies can be violated and desecrated, and the justice system will hand down a sentence that, frankly, does not match the brutality of the crime.

Sexual Violence and Legal Loopholes

Egyptian law recognizes rape and sexual assault, but the legal system remains inconsistent when it comes to violations against the dead.

Assaulting a corpse isn’t classified with the same severity as assaulting a living person. And while arson is a crime, it is often viewed separately from the horrific motive behind it—in this case, an attempt to cover up the rape of a dead woman.

If this crime had been committed against a living woman, would the punishment have been more severe? And if so, why should raping a woman’s corpse be treated as anything less?

Women Aren’t Safe. Even When They’re Dead.

This case exposes a brutal reality: being a woman means you are never truly safe. Not on the street. Not at home. Not even six feet under.

If a person can commit this level of depravity and walk free in 15 years (or less), what message does that send? That some crimes, no matter how gruesome, are still not taken seriously enough? That women’s safety—even after death—is not a legal priority?

At what point will the law start treating these crimes for what they truly are—acts of complete dehumanization?

15 years is not justice. It’s an insult.