“virginity tests” doctor acquitted

Bad news for Egypt, HERE.

Approximately one year ago, in the first of many extremely alarming signs that the Revolution was really just a coup and the culture of abuse was still fully in place, a number of female protestors were subjected to “virginity tests” on the grounds of the Museum at Tahrir Square. (Even worse, the Army went out of their way to announce in the press that all of the women had failed the test.)

The doctor responsible for the tests was just acquitted, which is really despicable news, though not the least bit surprising. I can’t think of anyone connected with abuses on SCAF’s watch who has been sent to prison. Not for the massacre of Copts at Maspero. Not for deliberate firing at the eyes of protestors in November. Not for the deliberate butchery of football fans at Port Said. 

We are living under a brutal military junta that, in a number of respects, is worse than the literal Mubarak government was. There are also some things that are better now, so it’s important not to exaggerate one’s cynicism. But it’s another dark day for progressive forces in Egypt, not to mention for women’s rights.