Egypt Bans Virginity Tests in Prison

Women said they were forced to undergo the tests following their arrests in Cairo protests.

An Egyptian administrative court has finally ruled against virginity tests for female prisoners and detainees. The case against the ruling military council was launched months ago by a 25-year-old Egyptian woman who was arrested at a Cairo protest in March. Samira Ibrahim said that she and several other female detainees were strip-searched, beaten, shocked and forced to undergo virginity tests. Though authorities initially denied that such tests were administered, the Egyptian Ahram Online reports that an anonymous senior general confirmed the practice and said it was meant to prove the women in question were not virgins and thereby prevent them from claiming they were sexually assaulted by authorities. Since launching the lawsuit, Ibrahim said she has faced repeated death threats.