Egypt's military has vowed to stop virginity tests on female protesters, Amnesty International said on Monday, after a top official said the tests were necessary to head off possible charges of rape. "The head of Egypt's military intelligence has promised Amnesty International that the army will no longer carry out forced 'virginity tests' after defending their use, during a meeting with the organisation on Sunday," Amnesty said in a statement. Major General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had discussed the issue with Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty. Sisi is a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which took power after a popular uprising ousted president Hosni Mubarak in February. The general was the first identified Egyptian military official to acknowledge that forced virginity tests have taken place. "He said virginity tests were carried out to protect the army against possible allegations of rape, and added that the army does not intend to detain women again," an Amnesty statement said on Sunday. On May 31, Amnesty called on the authorities in Egypt to bring to justice those responsible for forced virginity tests on female protesters, slamming it as "nothing less than torture." Amnesty's statement came after an apparent admission by an unnamed army general to CNN that women detained on March 9 in Cairo's Tahrir Square had been subjected to virginity tests. A senior military official on May 31 denied to AFP reports that the army had conducted such tests, saying "these allegations are baseless." Amnesty opposes forced virginity tests under any circumstances. "Sisi said people alleging abuses should complain to the military prosecutor and could also post their complaints on the SCAF Facebook page," the Amnesty statement said.
GMT 16:54 2018 Thursday ,06 December
Prominent Rwandan activist Diane Rwigara acquitted of 'insurrection'GMT 21:37 2018 Friday ,23 November
Bahrain's efforts to protect women's rights praisedGMT 12:30 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Women wrestlers take on tradition in south IraqGMT 11:04 2018 Friday ,26 October
EU gender pay gap means women work for free from November 3GMT 10:56 2018 Monday ,15 October
Halep clinches year-end top spot in women's tennis rankingsGMT 11:20 2018 Friday ,12 October
Young Egyptian woman serves as minister for a dayGMT 16:20 2018 Wednesday ,10 October
Palestinian champions ‘drift’ racing for womenGMT 09:36 2018 Tuesday ,02 October
Kuwaiti women's empowering initiative hailedMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor