EGYPT: Amnesty International demands justice for victims of 'virginity tests'

Amnesty International issued a statement Tuesday demanding that Egyptian authorities bring to justice those responsible for ordering or conducting forced “virginity tests” on female protesters. Earlier in the day, an Egyptian general tried to justify the practice during an interview with CNN.

The general told CNN that women detained in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on March 9 had been forced to undergo "virginity tests," which the government had previously denied, despite Amnesty International reports shortly after the protest.

An Amnesty International  researcher said accounts gathered from women who were subjected to the tests showed they were done to check whether their hymens were broken.

"That's a violation of their privacy that amounts to rape and torture," said researcher Mohamed Lotfy, a member of Amnesty International's North Africa team. "We want an investigation to hold accountable those who did these acts."

The general, speaking on condition of anonymity, sought to justify the practice by saying that the women “were not like your daughter or mine. These were girls who had camped out in tents with male protesters.”

“This admission is an utterly perverse justification of a degrading form of abuse,” said Amnesty International officials. "The Egyptian authorities must condemn these discriminatory, abusive and insulting attitudes which have been used to justify torture of women protesters, and which are clearly present at the highest levels."

Amnesty International in March gathered the testimonies of women protesters subjected to forced “virginity tests,” then wrote to Egypt’s Supreme Council for Armed Forces requesting an investigation. As of Tuesday, the organization had not received a response.

The general also told CNN that the reason for the "tests" was that the military “didn't want [the women]  to say we had sexually assaulted or raped them, so we wanted to prove that they weren't virgins in the first place."

“This general’s implication that only virgins can be victims of rape is a long-discredited sexist attitude and legal absurdity. When determining a case of rape, it is irrelevant whether or not the victim is a virgin,” Amnesty International said. “The army must immediately instruct security forces and soldiers that such ‘tests’ are banned.”

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Egyptian general admits protesters subjected to 'virginity tests'

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Cairo

Comments

[Louise M]

Putting aside that the fact that such inspections are degrading and humilliating, and that sexuality is nobodys bussiness but our own: is being a non-virgin woman some sort of a crime in Egypt? I mean, what kind of security or whatever goal is accomplished by checking a woman's virginity? I'm trying to find the "rationale" behind this (tho I know the military is not the most rational of institutions)

[dlloyd]

I suggest "manliness tests" for these barbarians.

[Mike]

Does this "general" have a name, rank or government title?

[criticalthinker55]

OK boys and girls once and for all,

can we denounce this male dominated religion for what it is?

[dlloyd]

Maybe those barbarians should be subjected to corresponding "manliness" tests!

[Sarah in Texas]

It is just sad that attitudes like this prevail in parts of the world. Truly it isn't too far off from the United States, where our own legislators recently suggested women should be prepared for rape as one would be prepared for a flat tire.

[Hipnick]

Sickening.

[Socorro Varela]

Where is "NOW" on this issue?

[chris]

I was so happy for them when the revolution began and then succeeded. Now with this coming out and the rape of Lara Logan. I have to wonder how it is any women can live there.
It is really making me feel confused about the Egyptian and Arab people in general. Pretty much all the 3rd world peoples who demand women be subjugated to male insecurity.
I'm starting to think this may be a very large issue we need to address as a nation in the same way we should have addressed the fact of their not being free.
Can you imagibne how awful it is to be attacked like that under by men looking down on you as if you are a lower life form?
It makes me feel sick for feeling so good for them.

[Bob]

What a joke. Amnesty international wants amnesty for others who illegally enter countries and amnesty for protestors against legal governments but no amnesty for government officials who do questionable things.

[Dean Blake]

AI seems to be running out of money raising issues to venture into this realm while prisoners all around the world are being beaten to death or just 'disappeared'. How does this indignaiy differ from men prisoners everywhere being forced to strip, squat and cough or worse?

This is just another attempt at making an issue for money raising in the West while neglecting their primary charter in dealing with prisoners who are genuinely being physically hurt. Instead of being concerned about 'virginity tests' why not protest Arab nations that excise the female genitalia under the euphomistic rubric of 'female circumcision'?

[Bruce Applegate MA Ed]

"Obama gives aid to the Muslim Brotherhood, the same orginazation that is burning churches in Egypt. He really is lost, giving away valued and needed money we can use in the U.S.A. to aid terrorists, who have already said all peace agreements are null and void. They are burning churches. How in the world do they get away with that and get aid? " We need to be active and not let these policies go without being heard. We should contact the US Government, our Media, and anyone else who will listen and do something. On my site there is the links to life its a resouce for helping to be heard, please share your idea's if we work together, there can be real change we can believe in. Bruce Applegate, www.NewHeraldNews.com

[Gaucho420]

Good luck getting any justice when the military rules and when Islam is your guiding light.