Sunday, March 11, 2012

Egypt “Virginity Test” case sees acquittals, activists angered



By Joseph Mayton
Bikya Masr

"CAIRO: As the verdict was announced, Egypt’s “virginity test” fighter Samira Ibrahim bellowed “down with the military,” while the first two rows of observers yelled out “God is great” in support of the court’s acquittal of those accused of performing the controversial “virginity tests” on women last March in downtown Cairo.

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......"

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