Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Egyptian Court Bans Virginity Tests for Women; Female Detainees Were Forced to Take the Tests

The Daily Beast website reports that an Egyptian court today (December 27, 2011) banned virginity tests for female detainees -- months after a woman arrested last March in a rally on Tahrir Square said detained women were forced to take the examinations.

Samira Ibrahim, 25, took the military-led government to court in August, saying she was forcibly subjected to a virginity test in March.

Although she received several death threats for taking the government to court, Ibrahim said, "I will not give up my rights as a woman or a human being."

Egyptian authorities originally denied issuing the tests, but at least one senior official has admitted the practice exists.

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