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Sent to prison for being in debt, Egyptian women are released via NFTs

In Egypt, tens of thousands of women are sent to prison every year. Not for committing an actual crime but for defaulting on loans. They're referred to as 'Al Gharemaat,' and the debts they can't repay are usually small, no more than a few hundred dollars.

Breakchains with Blockchain was created to buy women's freedom by selling NFTs. Each NFT is priced at the amount needed to get a specific woman out of prison and explains why she borrowed money — a derailed attempt to start a business, paying for infertility treatment or a parent's medicine, a loan taken out for an elderly neighbor.

The initiative was developed by creative agency Horizon FCB Dubai, with accompanying images contributed by artists from around the world. Breakchains with Blockchain's first NFT collection launched with nine pieces on Egyptian Mother's Day (21 March 2022), and more pieces will be added to free as many women as possible.

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The concept of buying women's freedom isn't new. For Breakchains with Blockchain, Horizon FCB partnered with Children of Female Prisoners Association, an Egyptian NGO founded in 1990.

But adding NFTs to the mix is smart. For one, it's a way to attract a new audience of potential donors. It's also a natural fit since debt and NFTs are inherently tied to money. And that simple dollar amount emphasizes what's at stake — unlike Bored Apes or Lazy Lions, the value of these tokens is the price of a human's liberty.