Egyptian protesters are forced to undergo "virginity tests" for being lesbian Raped Egypt (23/03/1911)
London .- Amnesty International today called Egyptian authorities to investigate serious allegations of torture, including forced realization of "virginity tests" - inflicted by the army of protesters detained in Tahrir Square this month.
After violent action undertaken by the army on March 9 to evict the protesters from the square, at least 18 women were placed under military custody. The protesters have told Amnesty International that they were beaten, given electric shocks, subjected to strip searches by male soldiers while photographing, and then forced to undergo "virginity tests" and threatened to accuse them of prostitution.
The "virginity tests" are a form of torture when done by force or duress.
"Forcing women to undergo" virginity tests "is absolutely unacceptable. Its purpose is to degrade women because they are women, "said Amnesty International. "All members of the medical profession should refuse to participate in these so-called 'evidence'."
Hosseini Salwa, 20 years old, told Amnesty International that after being arrested and taken to a military prison Heikstep, forced, along with other women, to remove all clothing to be filed by a prison guard in a room with the doors open and a window. During the strip search, Salwa Hosseini said that soldiers peered into the room and took pictures of naked women.
Then a man with the white coat subjected to "virginity tests" in another room. They were threatened that "those who are not virgins" would be charged with prostitution.
According to information received by Amnesty International, a woman who was said to be a virgin, but whose evidence allegedly proved otherwise, was beaten and subjected to electric shocks.
"Women and girls should be able to express their views on the future of Egypt and demonstrate against the government without being arrested, tortured or subjected to degrading treatment and discriminatory deeply, "said Amnesty International.
"The military tried to further humiliate women by allowing men observed and photographed what was happening, with the implied threat of harm that these women could suffer if the photographs were made public." ;
Rasha Azeb journalist was also arrested in Tahrir Square and, according to Amnesty International says, handcuffed, beaten and insulted.
After his arrest, the 18 women were taken initially to an annex of the Museum of Cairo where, according to reports, handcuffed, beaten with sticks and hoses, given electric shocks on his chest and legs, and called them "prostitutes."
Rasha Azeb saw and heard how they were tortured with electric shocks while the other detainees were held in the museum. She was released several hours later, along with four other men who were also journalists, but the other 17 women were taken to military prison Heikstep.
The testimonies of other women arrested at the same time, brought together by the El Nadeem Center Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, match reports and Salwa Rasha Azeb Hosseini on shock, electrocution and "virginity tests".
"The Egyptian authorities must stop the terrible and degrading treatment inflicted on the protesters. Women are fully involved in the movement for change in Egypt, and should not be punished for their activism, "said Amnesty International.
"All armed and security forces should receive clear instructions that torture and other ill-treatment, including 'virginity tests' forced, and will not be tolerated and will be investigated thoroughly. The perpetrators of these acts must be brought to justice, and the courageous women who have condemned these abuses should have protection from retaliation. "
The 17 women held at the military prison appeared before a military tribunal March 11 and released on 13 March. Several were sentenced to one year's conditional imprisonment.
Salwa Hosseini was convicted of disorderly conduct, destruction of private and public property, obstructing traffic and possession of weapons.
Amnesty
International opposes the trial of civilians before military courts in Egypt, as these courts have a history of unfair trials, and they severely restrict the right of appeal.