Rapes At Hospitals, Prisons, Police Stations: Women In Egypt Share Horror Stories Of Rampant Sexual Abuse

In Egypt, in the first, women have come out in public and expressed their pain. They shared their ordeals of sexual abuse, which according to them, has become a common practice in Egypt. The women revealed that rapes and sexual assault happen at ‘prisons, hospitals, and almost everywhere’ in the country. Several women in Egypt have come out to unmask a culture of widespread sexual abuse.

Molested by those responsible to protect

Crime against women is one of the foremost issues that needs to be tackled in the 21st century. While governments, administrations and law enforcement across the globe are tasked with prevention of such felony, the situation becomes grim and helpless when the protectors become perpetrators. Something similar has been going on in Egypt for years but it is only now that it has come to public light.

Abuse in the name of frisking and virginity test

The horror stories of women in Egypt are out in the open. They were arrested and silenced each time they tried to assert their rights and file complaints against abuse. The same officials who were tasked with bringing them justice instead subjected them to more sexual abuse.

Abuse in Police Stations and Hospitals as well

As per members of civil society and lawyers, there is adequate evidence. As per a New York Times report, at least a dozen women have come forward to speak of the atrocities meted out to them by officials appointed to serve them. However, most chose to remain anonymous fearing for their lives and that of their families.

Women are afraid to talk in Egypt

Women in Egypt confront grave danger. For them going to Courts of Law is filled with the risk of sexual abuse – be it as a victim, a witness or an accused. This is the first time that women in the African country have spoken out about their ordeal. In fact, several mentioned that the abuse was not just limited to courts but they faced similar circumstances in police stations, prisons and even hospitals.

Abuse by Government officials

Some incidents tell horror stories where police and prison officials would molest them during routine search. Furthermore, they would suffer sexual abuse under the pretence of officials performing virginity tests allegedly prescribed by government doctors. No public data exists about such incidents in Egypt as hardly any of the women ever talk about it.