A Brief History of How Egypt Became One of the World’s Hotspots of Organ Trafficking

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Egypt among the five top countries for illegal organ trafficking, a practice which persists despite the existence of laws that penalize it.

by Nadeen Shaker

Last May, a man who went by the name “Mazzika” started luring homeless street children and teenagers from Ramses Square, a stone’s throw away from Tahrir Square, and convincing them to harvest their organs. He asked for kidneys, liver lobes, or other organs, in exchange for 15,000 Egyptian pounds (about $850). Seduced by the money, the c…