Leading international human rights organization Amnesty International has lashed out at Egypt's military junta over the acquittal of a doctor in the forced “virginity tests” court battle that ended on Sunday in Cairo. The rights group echoed sentiments across social-networking sites on Sunday, saying the acquittal is “yet further proof that military courts are incapable of dealing with cases involving human rights abuses.” The case surrounded Samira Ibrahim, 25, who was one of a number of women who were forced to strip in front of soldiers and have “virginity tests” performed on them after they were arrested in downtown Cairo last March. “Once again, the Egyptian military have failed women, particularly those like Samira Ibrahim, who have shown tremendous courage in challenging the military establishment in Egypt,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International. “This decision is not only a travesty of justice but further proof that cases of human rights abuses by the military should be dealt with in civilian courts,” Sahraoui added. Activists and observers were unfortunately not surprised by the verdict, which put no blame and no jail time for doctors and the military junta who beat and then subjected a group of women to undress so a doctor could examine them, in front of soldiers. “It is as if we have returned to the Mubarak era, where the government and the military can get away with anything,” said university student Noha. She added to Bikyamasr.com that Samira Ibrahim the woman who has battled over one year for justice, “was a hero we all Egyptian women should be like.” Human Rights Watch said shortly after the verdict was announced that it was more evidence that it should have been tried in a civilian court, not a military trial. In Egypt, despite a few brief statements from groups, the case largely remained on the sidelines of major action, including from women's organizations. Ibrahim told Bikyamasr.com before the March 4 session that she is pushing forward “so no other girls are subjected to this kind of torture and violence in Egypt.” She also said that a new lawsuit had been brought against her ahead of the last session earlier this month, accusing her of “destruction of public property” and other charges. Ibrahim said she had only recently received the legal notification and she and her lawyer were looking into the matter. During the session before the March 4 date, two female prison guards gave their testimonies, saying that the tests were in fact merely a question of “who is married and who is a virgin.” The women said it was out of “medical concern” for the arrested women in case one of them was “pregnant.” They said the doctor never ordered any woman to take off her clothes, instead they asked them verbally who was and wasn't a virgin, and asked them to stand in two lines, one for those who are and one for those who are not. Ibrahim, the only woman out of the dozen who were arrested and subjected to the virginity tests is the plaintiff in the case. “Ever since this unacceptable episode, which is nothing less than torture, women protesters have repeatedly faced beatings, torture and other ill-treatment at the hands of Egypt's army and security forces,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International. Despite her case and her push for greater women's rights, no single women's organization has taken her call, and she says no group has come forward to assist her in her battle against the military junta. A military judge has called on the media to not cover or report on the case, saying it gives Egypt “a bad name.” Her case has embroiled activists, especially young women in the country, who have turned to politics in greater number. For Hamda, a 27-year-old doctor from Aswan, in Cairo for meetings at the Doctor's Syndicate, Ibrahim is a symbol of Egypt's revolution. “She gave me the strength to fight and battle for what is right,” the young woman told Bikyamasr.com on Monday morning. “We are all Samira because we women have tough life in Egypt.” Ibrahim filed a lawsuit against the doctor, who works at a military facility, and has accused him of forcing her to undergo a virginity test last March, when she and other female protesters were arrested in Cairo's Tahrir Square during a sit-in and taken to a facility. The women were forced, in front of dozens of other soldiers, to take down their pants and allow a doctor to examine them. When Ibrahim asked for the procedure to be done in private, she was assaulted, Ibrahim said. The military court has been charged the doctor of committing a “crime against modesty,” and “negligence of the obedience of the military orders.” Rights groups have told Bikyamasr.com that by using these charges, it eases the crimes from felony by physical assault to indecent misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of no more than one year. Local groups have condemned the continued protection of the leaders and members of the armed forces from any accountability for crimes committed against civilians. Ibrahim told Bikyamasr.com that no women's group has come forward to offer her and the other girls subjected to the tests assistance. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/v0VVZ Tags: featured, Samira Ibrahim, SCAF, Trial, Virginity Tests Section: Egypt, Features, Human Rights, Latest News, Women
