The Cairo Appeals Court, sitting at the Abbasiya Court Complex, has scheduled September 26 for the first hearing of an appeal filed by “Safaa H.” against a seven-year prison sentence for kidnapping a newborn baby from Hossein University Hospital and endangering the child's life.

Seven-Year Sentence in Hossein Hospital Baby Kidnapping Case

The Eighth Northern Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court had previously sentenced the defendant to seven years in prison after finding her guilty of kidnapping the newborn girl, identified as “Iman R.”, from Hossein University Hospital.

The case dates back to April 14, 2026, in Cairo's Gamaliya district, after prosecutors accused the defendant of kidnapping the newborn and putting her life at risk.

Details of the Hossein Hospital Baby Kidnapping

Investigations found that the defendant had allegedly planned to kidnap a newborn child.

She reportedly visited Hossein University Hospital wearing a niqab to conceal her identity and returned to the hospital twice before carrying out the crime.

According to the court's reasoning, she eventually saw the newborn and her mother and began approaching them before accompanying them to their assigned room.

Defendant Allegedly Took Advantage of the Mother's Isolation

The court said the defendant took advantage of the mother being alone with her newborn daughter inside the room.

She allegedly kidnapped the baby, concealed her beneath her clothing and veil, then left the hospital and traveled with the child to her home in Badr City.

Security authorities arrested her the following day while the baby was still with her.

Surveillance Cameras Documented the Incident

The court relied on several pieces of evidence in reaching its verdict, including the defendant's statements to prosecutors, testimony from members of the baby's family, a police officer's testimony and surveillance camera footage from the hospital.

The footage showed the defendant entering the hospital wearing a niqab, meeting the baby's mother and entering the room before appearing to carry the newborn and conceal her beneath her veil.

She was then seen leaving the hospital with the child.

Defendant Admitted the Kidnapping

When confronted with the surveillance footage, the defendant reportedly admitted that she was the veiled woman shown in the recordings and that the footage documented the kidnapping.

According to the court's reasoning, she also admitted appearing in two videos dated April 8 and 9, 2026, while looking for a child to kidnap.

She reportedly acknowledged that she had been searching for any newborn she could abduct.

Court Confirms Criminal Intent

The court found that the elements of kidnapping a newborn and endangering the child's life were established.

It said the defendant's confession, supported by witness testimony, surveillance footage and police investigations, demonstrated that the kidnapping was intentional.

The defense had requested an acquittal on the grounds that criminal intent had not been established, while alternatively seeking leniency. Prosecutors had requested the maximum applicable punishment.

The trial court ultimately convicted the defendant and sentenced her to seven years in prison, in addition to ordering her to pay the criminal case expenses.

Date of Appeal Hearing

The Cairo Appeals Criminal Court is scheduled to hear the defendant's appeal on September 26, challenging the seven-year prison sentence issued in the newborn kidnapping case at Hossein University Hospital.

When is the appeal hearing?

The first appeal hearing is scheduled for September 26.

What was the original sentence?

The defendant was sentenced to seven years in prison by the trial court.

Where did the kidnapping take place?

The incident took place at Hossein University Hospital in Cairo.

When was the defendant arrested?

Security authorities arrested her the day after the incident in Badr City, with the newborn in her possession.