Female Egyptian Protesters Were Tortured and Forced To Have "Virginity Tests"

While the Egyptian Army troops were being hailed as major heroes for siding with the protesters and effectively refusing to engage in violent acts against those demonstrating for democracy in Egypt, on March 9th things suddenly changed when soldiers violently attacked Tahrir Square, forcing the protesters out. Some of those protesters were female, and what these women were subjected to is horrifying, at best.

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According to Amnesty International, 18 women were taken to a temporary detention center at a Cairo museum, and then transferred to a military prison where the women were allegedly tortured and further humiliated and degraded by being forced to undergo what in Islam is called a 'virginity test'. Those not found to be virgins would be charged with prostitution. Amnesty International considers this kind of treatment (forced virginity tests) as torture: "Forcing women to have 'virginity tests' is utterly unacceptable. Its purpose is to degrade women because they are women," and has called for all medical personnel who conduct those kinds of tests to refuse to participate.

And the most appalling thing about the whole ordeal is that the women were apparently photographed by male soldiers. One of the protesters, Salwa Hosseini (20) claims that she, along with others, was strip- searched by a female soldier, but that since doors were left wide open, and there was window access, a gaggle of male soldiers were allowed to ogle the women. The men then proceeded to photograph the girls with not a stitch of clothing on. Those photos were later used as a threat against the women.

The next dehumanizing action was the 'virginity test' which was performed by a male medic, and I don't even want to want what that entails. Amnesty has asked the Egyptian government to look into all the allegations and declared that "Women and girls must be able to express their views on the future of Egypt and protest against the government without being detained, tortured, or subjected to profoundly degrading and discriminatory treatment. The Egyptian authorities must halt the shocking and degrading treatment of women protesters. Women fully participated in bringing change in Egypt and should not be punished for their activism."

They also arrested Rasha Azeb, a female journalist along with 4 male reporters. Although she too was beaten and called a "prostitute" like all the other women, she was released a few hours later, while the 17 others were transported to Heikstep military prison. According to Azeb, she witnessed first hand the torture by electric shock of the remaining women.

The 17 women were finally released on March 13 after a military hearing on March 11. Some of them were given 1-year "suspended prison sentences," but why are civilians being tried in a military court? Then again, why were their rights violated by being forced to undergo a 'virginity test'? When will women be respected in the Middle East?

Source: Amnesty International