- Marwa Elselehdar is the first female captain of Egypt.
- Online rumors and false news headlines have blamed her for the foundation of Ever Given, she told the BBC.
- Elselehdar was actually 200 kilometers from the incident when it took place.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
The first Egyptian captain has been blamed for blocking the Suez Canal, even though he was hundreds of kilometers from the incident, she told BBC News.
Marwa Elselehdar said she saw online rumors accusing her of being responsible for the Ever Given container ship stranded, the media reported.
At the time of the jam, Elselehdar was working as a first mate on the Aida IV. This vessel was in Alexandria – more than 200 kilometers away from the site of the collision.
An investigation is underway to explain the basis of the Ever Given, but it is clear the 29-year-old was not at fault.
Read more: The four biggest losers of the Suez Canal fiasco – and 4 surprising winners
Rumors circulating online about Elselehdar’s alleged guilt are exacerbated by the sharing of screenshots with fake news headlines, reports BBC News.
Several social media accounts have also sued her, spreading false claims and blaming her, the media said.
“I felt I might be targeted because I’m a successful woman in this field or because I’m Egyptian, but I’m not sure,” Elselehdar told the BBC.
The young woman described how she was ‘shocked’ when she saw the baseless accusations on her phone.
The rumors went to her. “I tried so hard to deny what was in the article because it affected my reputation and all the efforts I made to be where I am now,” she said in the BBC interview.
Elselehdar is one of the few women in the strong shaving sector by men.
In 2016, she becomes the youngest and first female Egyptian captain to cross the Suez Canal. A year later, she was honored by Egypt’s president during the celebration of Women’s Day, the BBC said.
She hopes her career, despite this unfortunate setback, will inspire other women to break into the industry.
“My message to women who want to be in the maritime field is to fight for what you love and that no negativity can affect you,” she told the BBC.