Egyptian principal investigated after viral video shows her hitting students with shoe

Dubai: Egyptian authorities have launched an investigation into an elementary school principal accused of assaulting several students with her shoe.

The case has sparked widespread outrage after a video of the incident circulated widely online.

In a statement, the Administrative Prosecution Authority confirmed that the principal, affiliated with the El Marg Educational Directorate in Cairo, has been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The video footage reportedly shows the principal physically and verbally abusing students inside the school premises.

Preliminary findings indicate the incident began when a student's parents arrived at the school, alleging that their child had been beaten by classmates.

The parents brought the other students to the staff affairs office, where the principal was present.

A verbal altercation between the principal and the mother escalated into physical abuse.

The principal is alleged to have struck the students with her shoe, allowed the parents to join in the abuse, and permitted them to film the incident. She also reportedly detained the children in the office and confiscated their schoolbags.

Investigators noted that the school’s surveillance cameras were nonfunctional at the time, and the principal had failed to address the issue, despite being aware of it—further complicating the case.

The Administrative Prosecution Authority urged the public to continue reporting cases of abuse or misconduct through its official channels, including its Women, Human Rights, and Disability Affairs Unit email.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE.