Abused Egyptian female protesters fight back

(CBS News) 

It's been a year since the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, but the citizens of the African nation are far from receiving basic human rights.

This week, Cairo's streets were filled with protestors, angry at the military council that has taken over since former dictator Hosni Mubarak fell from power.

Some of the people involved in the demonstrations included women who have been brutalized. There have been reports of Egyptian soldiers sexually assaulting women protestors, and then explaining their actions by giving the outrageous explanation that the abuse is necessary to determine if the women are prostitutes.

Despite this sexist and unfair treatment, CBS News foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward found some brave women willing to rise up and expose the army.

Those women include Samira Ibrahim, whose memories of Tahrir Square are not just about the Egyptian revolution. During a military raid on a protest in March 2011, she and 16 other women were dragged away by security forces. It was all caught on cell phone video.

"They handcuffed us and used electric prods," she said.

What happened next has completely shocked Egypt.

"They ordered us to undress completely, then they split us into two groups," she explained.

Ibrahim said she was forced to lie on a table and undergo a virginity test in front of a group of soldiers. Some of them filed the entire assault on their camera phones. The military members called her a prostitute.

She broke down in tears, thinking about the traumatic experience.

Ibrahim explained that the test is meant to humiliate women into not protesting. Nineteen female protestors have claimed they were subjected to the same virginity tests since Mubarak was forced out of power and the military took over in February 2011.

Human rights groups say that many more abuse cases have gone unreported. One video online shows a woman being beaten and stripped by military members. She is only known as the woman with the blue bra.

Mona Eltahawy says that few women in Erupt speak out about sexual assault because of the cultural and religious importance attached to chastity. She herself was assaulted and badly beaten by security forces in November 2011.

"It is the silence and the shame," Eltahawy explained. "Women are expected to be ashamed about what happened to them and just quietly go home."

But Ibrahim was not willing to suffer in silence. She went to civil court to have the virginity tests declared illegal - and won.

Since then, she's received death threats from some religious conservatives for speaking out. To many, though, she's a hero.

"She's going to become an icon of the revolution, not just for women but for men too," Eltahawy said. "Because she's looking those old generals in the eyes and she's saying, the shame belongs to you, not to me. And that is revolutionary."

Ibrahim is planning to bring her case to military court. She's no longer afraid of her abusers. "I refuse to be afraid," she said. "This isn't just for me. It's for all the other victims."

[Devlyn13]

this will only stop the violence against women is for all women to stand up and unite world wide . no one should be brutilized like that not women, children or men . you would think that the amount that is coming out about men being raped that they would unite also . but many dont because they are to feel shame like it was thier fault it happened to them . until this is done rape will continue to be used as a main weapon against the masses. over there it is even worse as after these women are raped they become damaged and ruin thier family honor so they can be killed by their family too.

[jmrtsus]

What is news here is not that it happened but someone was willing to stand up and fight. I think these Arab countries are going through what the US did in the 60's. The younger generation is saying they have had enough oppression and discrimination. Revolt is a good thing to the Christian/Jewish world population if it brings moderation to the Arab countries the world may have a chance settle down some. Why do you think Egypt is so concerned by the presence of western political groups in their country? If true democracy comes to the Arab countries Middle East peace might even have a chance!

[JNdluli]

Don't make the error of equating Western-style democracy with the Arab understanding or interpretation, thereof. It's not the same. Islamists do not have separation of State/Faith. Their faith leads their politics. You say revolt is a good thing? Consider this - in Cairo chaos predominated as people rioted, leaving four people dead. This follows on from the deadly riot in the town of Port Said on Wednesday that killed 74 people. Islamist lawmakers who dominate the new Egyptian Parliament have been unable and ineffective to return stability to society.
During these riots there have been reports of Egyptian (Muslim) soldiers sexually assaulting women protestors, and then explaining their actions by giving the outrageous explanation that the abuse is necessary to determine if the women are prostitutes. Also during this rioting debacle, Muslim Bedouin abducted two elderly Christian females, who were making a pious pilgrimage to a Holy Christian site in Sinai. Last Friday, in Syria, more than 200 people were killed in shelling by Syrian forces (Islamic) in the city of Homs. In Iraq, a total of 14 bombs were placed at different Christian homes late on Thursday. In Iraq, in January - more than 350 people were killed, including nearly 290 civilians.
In Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain & Libya - the Islamic governments are still ineffective and unable to control armed and violent mobs.

[veganking]

Substitute a few words in this article and it could be about the TSA.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Pleeeze!!! You have just completely trivialized a tragic brutal event. Typical view from a uneducated apathetic piece of male crap.

[you_MAY_be_right]

vegan you're an idiot.

If you don't want to undergo scrutiny by the TSA then walk, ride a bike, take a train, or stay at home.

Otherwise your comment is ignorant.