Egypt: female protesters tortured, sexually abused, "charged as prostitutes"

From the testimony of a female 25-year old Tahrir Square demonstrator in Egypt, who spent days in a military prison: "They spit on her. All of her belongings were stolen. She was given kerosene-soaked bread for food. But the most humiliating moment was when they first brought her into the prison. She and 10 other women arrested in the square were stripped and forcibly examined to determine whether they were virgins. She had been told that any woman found not to be a virgin would have prostitution added to her charges." (Washington Post)

• [seachange]

  This sounds like what happened to some women who were detained by the Toronto police during the G20 protests. Although I doubt those police made any excuse about testing for “virginity.”

• [Anonymous]

  It’s sobering to think that here we are in the 21st century, and for many cultures the main difference between the way prisoners were treated in the middle ages and today is that today the torture is more sophisticated.

  You think this doesn’t apply to the US? See also the treatment of Bradley Manning, also discussed today on BB.

  • [masamunecyrus]

    Anon #6, let’s be clear here. What is happening to Bradley Manning is most likely torture as defined in modern terms. Modern terms. What is happening to Bradley Manning is like running around in Candyland as compared to medieval torture. There is no comparison.

• [Anonymous]

  Please. Why expect anything less? Anywhere? Certainly could happen here, if the equivalent doesn’t — the land of Bradely Manning.

• [Anonymous]

  masamunecyrus, psychological torture of the kind Manning is subject to is nothing to laugh off. While medieval torture was often brutal and physical, it was also often brief. Manning has been subject to psychological torture for months and the deterioration of his condition has been noted in the media.

• [Willie McBride]

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajCe1km7UFM

  With English subtitles.

• [ukcannonfodder]

  remember USA its your tax dollars paying for this, Egypt is still under the same controllers it has been for many years, America will see to that.

  the USA also fully backs Israel’s illegal occupation, illegal settlements, murder, assassinations, war crimes, etc, then tries to act as a peace broker lol.

  America also backs the brutal dictators in Bahrain:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDKruSCu0xE

  Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks

  The business of torture goes on as usual:
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/mar/15/torture-pervez-musharraf-tacit-approval

  Bahrain government about to collapse” – US, UK supplied the weapons used on the people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNhbNjxx-8M

• [Anonymous]

  Not a bright start for a democracy.

• [Anonymous]

  That is blatant crimes against humanity.

• [druranium]

  could someone get the message to these barbarians that there is no way to ‘forcibly examine women to determine whether they are virgins’?
  Oh, nevermind. obviously it was just their patented method of subjugating/humiliating and assaulting them.

• [CatherineCC]

  Typical behavior for police / military forces in Egypt. Gang rape is also commonly used.
  We’ll see if anything changes…

• [Major Variola (ret)]

  The problem is that initiating force is wrong.

  As abhorrent as these cultures are, can we legitimately
  initiate violence?

  Perhaps we should just lead by example, leave others
  alone, and admit oppressed people.

  That would be noble. Invading other countries, no.

  ….

  Anyway, the Saudis are our buddies, no matter how many
  skyscrapers they downed, or other arab countries they invade.

  Buddies.