The Deep Dive: Kofta, Poison, and the Thirteen-Year-Old Accomplice in Egypt's Ramadan Nightmare

The story of Shayma and her elderly neighbor Fathi is one of the most harrowing cases of abuse and manipulation in Egypt. At just 13 years old, Shayma poisoned her family during a Ramadan meal, killing her father and leaving her mother and brother gravely ill. What at first seemed like ordinary food poisoning quickly turned into a homicide investigation when an autopsy revealed the presence of rat poison. Under questioning, Shayma confessed. The truth shocked everyone: for seven years, she had been trapped in an abusive relationship with Fathi, a 65-year-old neighbor who manipulated her into carrying out the poisoning after her father tried to cut off their contact. The courts held Fathi responsible as the instigator of the crime, sentencing him to death, while Shayma, due to her age, was sent to a juvenile detention center. The case remains a tragic example of exploitation, failed protection, and the devastating impact of abuse.You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:https://linktr.ee/crimenight1Produced by:https://www.podcaistudio.com/