Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Investigated For Violence Against Women
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 3:30 PM
Two Muslim Brotherhood leaders are being investigated for inciting supporters of President Mohamed Morsi to attack women who were protesting in Tahrir Square. The investigation is the result of complaints by at least one female activist who claimed that supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood sought out and attacked women at a demonstration.
Unfortunately sexual violence toward women protesters in Egypt is common. Some of the worst attacks occurred in Tahrir Square in June following the disbanding of parliament. An anti-sexual harassment demonstration organized by 20 women’s groups in June was attacked by unknown thugs. Also, in a march of more than 10,000 women on International Women’s Day, men attacked the demonstrators because they did not like women protesting for more rights. Most of the women were groped and sexually assaulted during the attack and one protestor had to have eight stitches in her head. According to a 2008 study by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights more than two-thirds of Egyptian females face sexual harassment every day.