Egypt bans virginity tests on detainees - San Francisco Chronicle

Cairo --

An Egyptian court on Tuesday banned virginity tests on female detainees in military-controlled prisons, buoying human rights groups, who said the civilian court's ruling was binding on the country's military leaders.

The ban came in response to a lawsuit filed by market manager Samira Ibrahim, one of seven women who said they were subjected to humiliating virginity checks after being detained by the military at a sit-in in March. At the time, the ruling generals denied that their soldiers had conducted such tests and offered no apologies.

An army general was later quoted as saying that tests had been carried out but only to protect soldiers from accusations of rape. Last week, the military announced investigations into military personnel involved in the incidents.

The generals' management of the country's current period of transition has drawn intense criticism from political activists, but the reports of mistreatment of women at the hands of the military have incensed a broad swath of Egyptians. In recent crackdowns on protesters, soldiers were filmed dragging unarmed women by their hair, beating them and in at least one case stripping off a woman's clothing to expose her bra.

"The sentencing prohibits anyone from performing such tests, including the military council," said Gamal Eid, a human rights lawyer.

Ibrahim, 25, has been one of the most outspoken about her experience and the most dogged about holding someone accountable.

The young woman posted a video on YouTube in which she said that after she was detained on March 9, she was electrocuted with cattle prods, accused of being a prostitute, forced to strip in front of soldiers and then examined by a man in khaki pants.

The military doctor who conducted the test will face a hearing in a military court beginning Jan. 3, according to state television. A separate hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8 for three other soldiers, who are accused of running over unarmed protesters in October when more than 26 mostly Christian demonstrators were killed in clashes with security forces.

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