Organised rapes in Tahrir square?

[Empusa]

Article

I'm not going to quote any of it, as I imagine it'd be very triggery. So be aware of that before clicking the link.

It sounds terrifying, I think the idea of spray painting the attackers is an interesting one, but I wonder if there is enough stigma attached to attacking women for it to be effective?

omg

Oh god
Will look at article see if I can cope with it
There was a female journalist sexually assaulted there the other day as well
Women were allowed out for about 10 minutes and now it's back to business as usual

Oh god those poor women

That is truly horrific and the victim blaming is just unbelievable

You see things like this make me feel so hopeless.
The govt of Egypt doesn't care (and might well be organising much of it).
Egyptian society means that there is no public outcry.
Western govts don't give a stuff about women's rights no matter what they might say.
What can be done? I don't know what to do. It's so awful.

SQ I wish I knew what we could do, I felt so helpless reading about it. The friend who linked us to that article is Egyptian and is worried about his female friends and relatives, especially one who works right next to Tahrir Square, she's already had some hassle though thankfully not to the same degree as the women in that article.

I'm horrified by the lack of coverage in Western media, especially when they were so keen to cover the protests there.

demonstrate outside Egyptian Embassy?

Let's just hope that now the Muislim Brotherhood are in power they don't start restricting women's rights and what they wear in order to "protect" them. But I fear for the future........

There is a complete lack of humans rights coverage in the mainstream media, i think it's because they only show things that affect the majority... It's a problem but they can't cover everything. There are other sources of media that do give good coverage.

Plus the media here is influenced by our government as most media is in all countries... That's a problem.

I had to stop reading. Won't these despicable acts be used as the basis for "see? You aren't safe out on the streets, go back into your houses, stay inside unless you are accompanied"? (Not that I think these restrictions have ever been imposed on Egyptian women).

These are politically-motivated hate crimes.

Hang on a minute, there is a growing grass roots movement against sexual harassment in Egypt.

Here is a little bit about it: www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2012/07/201273115148951462.html

Also, while sexual harassment is indeed a huge problem in Egypt, it's wrong to claim that women are never allowed out. Egypt is not Saudi, the streets are full of women of all ages and yes, they get to drive too.

I understand that people want to help, but time needs to be taken to learn the facts on the ground rather then just resorting to stereotypes.

Agreed GothAnne, it's important to understand the context.

Indeed, GothAnne, my point was not that these kind of restrictions were already present in Egyptian society, more that this type of behaviour could be used to justify it by hardliners. As it already is in Saudi.

GothAnne a grassroots movement isn't going to get very far in the context of Egyptian society and its attitude to sexual assault, a total lack of interest by the police / powers that be to do anything (and much of the time they are the ones doing it), the likelihood of the muslim brotherhood getting in (they say they will repsect women's rights, but, well let's wait and see on that one)...

Of course women who are there are trying to do something. But it's going to be pretty fucking difficult isn't it. If when they go out to protest the are attacked like this.

Incidentally my comment "Women were allowed out for about 10 minutes and now it's back to business as usual " related to the fact that in the initial protests women were really pleased that there was very little of the usual harrassment - that things were so different, with all people men and women united together protesting a common foe. The hope was it was a turning point for women. However after the initial toppling of the govt things have reverted to where they were before and are getting even worse, plus these terrifying group attacks. Assuming that people on the thread don't know there is a difference between Egypt and other countries is patronising in the extreme.

And FWIW I do not wish to sit here and think "oh mass rape of women who dare to protest in Tahrir Square, never mind there is a growing grass roots movement"

And the video that you linked is related to a protest which is talked about in the article linked in the OP.

For these women to get anywhere there needs to be change at a fundamental societal level, the law needs to be enforced, perpetrators need to be tried and jailed.

The first can only come from inside, but international pressure / a willingness to conform to international standards can sure as hell help with the second 2.

I absolutely understand the point of not trying to dictate to activists in a different country / culture how to organise themselves and how to proceed. But the idea of just leaving them to it... It's a huge mountain to climb and international support will assist with that journey.

I never said about sitting and doing nothing, but change has to be lead by the grassroots.

Outside interference can often do more harm then good if it is not done in consultation with women working on the front line of things.

The volunteer body guards pulled out last night according to their twitter page.
Devastated that women still have do little status and respect in many countries.

Really? You think that is an appropriate comment on a snesitive thread like this?

sensitive even

'Triggery' means it might make people upset, offal. Some people get flashbacks or other unpleasant issues, and reading about rape can 'trigger' those, hence the warning. It just means, be warned before you read.

There's a woman journalist tweeting from Cairo who might be interesting - I don't use twitter, forgive me, so don't really know, but I think she is one heck of a brave woman. twitter.com/Beltrew

Bel Trew and Paula Slier are doing some fantastic reporting from Tahrir Square and elsewhere in Cairo. As is Jacky Rowlands for Aljazeera.

Sorry. Bel Trew and Paula Slier are doing some fantastic reporting for RT.