Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Military official admits protesters had ‘virginity checks,'' says CNN
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 31 - 05 - 2011

A prominent Egyptian general admitted that female protesters arrested during protests in Tahrir Square in March were forced to undergo virginity tests, according to a report by US television channel CNN.
Military authorities had previously denied allegations about the virginity tests made by Amnesty International and Egyptian rights groups.
On 28 March, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces vowed to initiate investigations into claims that some armed forces personnel tortured women arrested in Tahrir Square. However, the council has yet to announce the outcome of the investigations
“These were girls who had camped out in tents with male protesters in Tahrir Square, and we found in the tents Molotov cocktails and (drugs)," said the general, who spoke on condition of anonymity, in defense of the test.
The general also told CNN that the virginity checks were a precautionary step so the protesters wouldn't later claim they had been raped by the Egyptian authorities.
“We didn't want them to say we had sexually assaulted or raped them, so we wanted to prove that they weren't virgins in the first place," the general said. "None of them were (virgins).”
However, the statements made by the source contradicted those previously made by Major General Amr Imam, who said that 17 women had been arrested but denied the Amnesty International allegations of torture or virginity tests.
Amnesty International had earlier called on Egyptian authorities to launch investigations in this regard.
“After army officers violently cleared the square of protesters on 9 March, at least 18 women were held in military detention,” said the Amnesty report.
Female protesters told Amnesty International that they were beaten, given electric shocks, subjected to strip searches while being photographed by male soldiers and forced to submit to "virginity checks." They were then threatened with being charged for prostitution.
Salwa Hosseini, one of the women named in the Amnesty report, told CNN that uniformed soldiers tied her up on the grounds of the Egyptian Museum, slapped her and shocked her with a stun gun while calling her a prostitute.
"They wanted to teach us a lesson. They wanted to make us feel that we do not have dignity," she said.
Hosseini added that she, along with another 16 female prisoners, were taken to a military detention center in Heikstep, where they were forced to undergo virginity tests.
Threatened with more stun gun shocks, the women followed orders.
“I was going through a nervous breakdown at that moment," she recalled. "There was no one standing during the test, except for a woman and the male doctor. But several soldiers were standing behind us watching the backside of the bed. I think they had them standing there as witnesses.”
The senior military official told CNN that authorities arrested 149 people on 9 March and sent them to military courts. Some were sentenced to a year in prison. However, the sentences were then revoked as "some of the detainees were revealed holding university degrees, so (the military) decided to give them a second chance.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition


Clic here to read the story from its source.