Virginity Tests

Yesterday, I was at the Gardens Hotel in MidValley City to take on multiple roles at the Fun Fitness Toastmasters meeting. I was the General Evaluator, the Ah Counter and the evaluator for Jay Nambiar who delivered his CC speech # 4 titled “Tips to brewing an astounding cup of coffee”. Although there were only seven of us – it was nevertheless an engaging meeting. Personally I enjoyed the meeting because the standard of English was exemplary. My only grouse was that we started late. Still, I would give this meeting a score of 8 out of 10.

Photo credit: Reuters/ Fayaz Kabli

Activists and bloggers are pressing Egypt's military rulers to investigate accusations of serious abuses against protesters, including claims that soldiers subjected female detainees to so-called "virginity tests". The virginity test allegations first surfaced after a March 09 rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square that turned violent when men in plainclothes attacked protesters and the army violently cleared the square of protesters – and it was reported that at least eighteen women were detained.

One of the women arrested, Salwa al-Husseini, gave a detailed account at a news conference also in March of her treatment and said she was made to undergo a virginity test. She said she was slapped in the face and subjected to electric shocks in her legs before being taken to a military prison.

Amnesty International further documented the abuse allegations in a report that women were beaten, given electric shocks, subjected to strip searches while being photographed by male soldiers, then forced to submit to ‘virginity checks’ and threatened with prostitution charges. ‘Virginity tests’ are a form of torture when they are forced or coerced.

Forcing women to have 'virginity tests' is completely unacceptable because it is degrading to women because they are women. Women must be given the freedom to openly express their views on the future of their country without being detained, tortured, and/or subjected to humiliation and abuse.