Egypt’s first female ship captain Marwa Elselehdar was at the centre of a fake news campaign that blamed her for bringing one of the world’s most strategic shipping routes, the Suez Canal, to a halt, reported BBC.
“I felt that I might be targeted maybe because I’m a successful female in this field or because I’m Egyptian, but I’m not sure,” she said.
“This fake article was in English so it spread in other countries. I tried so hard to negate what was in the article because it was affecting my reputation and all the efforts I exerted to be where I am now,” she told BBC.
“The comments on the article were very negative and harsh but there were so many other supportive comments from ordinary people and people I work with,” she says.
“I decided to focus on all the support and love I’m getting, and my anger turned to gratefulness,” Marwa said.
The 224,000-tonne Ever Given was grounded in the Suez Canal on March 23, completely blocking the traffic along the waterway and delaying a number of ships carrying cargo ranging from oil to consumer goods.
The ship was refloated on March 29. Global commerce resumed its course by April 3.
(With Agency Inputs)
