Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Egyptian Military Soldiers Beat And Stomped On Female Pro-democracy Demonstrator Draws Major Protests

Photo: Reuters

Egyptian female pro-democracy demonstrator who was beaten by military police was an activist, according to friends.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 20, 2011

Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt - On Tuesday, tens of thousands of women marched in Cairo in protest and to denounce the military council's leadership after a woman activist was savagely beaten and stripped on the street by multiple soldiers. The incident was captured in video and spread through the social networks and main stream media.
Several unidentified women were trying to escape from military police during a confrontation with demonstrators. Both women were overran by military police and they began to beat the women when they fell. Military soldiers immediately converged on one of them and began to kick, stomp, beat her with batons, while tearing her clothes off as she was on the ground. They began to drag her away, as her blue bra and midsection of her body was exposed. Nearby demonstrators then threw stones at the military involved and the woman managed to get away, according to reports.
A statement during a press conference on Tuesday by General Adel Emara said, an investigation was luanched and those soldiers involved will be held accountable. "The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces expresses its strong regret to the great women of Egypt over transgressions that occurred during recent incidents in the protests outside parliament and the cabinet."
Since Friday, at least 14 protesters have died and 900 were reported injured. The Egyptian ministry is claiming that 10 have died and 505 were injured. The military says, that 164 were detained.
Dozens of women (pro-democracy demonstrators) were included in the arrests and many have alleged they have been also beaten by soldiers and some have claimed that they were molested as well.
On Monday during a speech at the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State said, that "Women are being beaten and humiliated in the same streets where they risked their lives for the revolution only a few short months ago...This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonours the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people." The U.S. provides more than $3 billion per year to Egypt in military aid.

Military police beat several women and stripped one of them, video link at: http://goo.gl/vMfks

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