Egypt: Epidemic of Sexual Violence

[oberliner]

Egyptian officials and political leaders across the spectrum should condemn and take immediate steps to address the horrific levels of sexual violence against women in Tahrir Square. Egyptian anti-sexual harassment groups confirmed that mobs sexually assaulted and in some cases raped at least 91 women in Tahrir Square, over four days of protests beginning on June 30, 2013, amid a climate of impunity.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/07/03/egypt-epidemic-sexual-violence

[ucrdem]

1. I heard that today too

from an Al Jazeera English reporter on Pacifica. One thing he said struck me, namely that last time this happened was right after Mubarak stepped down. He said it was like switch had been thrown and suddenly the crowd turned ugly.

This makes me wonder if these "spontaneous" Tahrir crowds, which no one ever can quite account for in any rational way save "social media," aren't largely composed of hired mercenaries who, as soon as the job is over, collect a little loot from the battlefield, so to speak. There's a long history of such types being used to swell crowds by coup engineers, typically being US or UK intel outfits.

[WCLinolVir]

7. Collect a little loot? Please tell me I did not read someone referring to a horrific crime like rape

in such a dismissive, reductive term.

[ucrdem]

12. It isn't dismissive or reductive.

Looting and rapine are not unrelated activities, and in fact rapere, the Latin verb that English "rape" descends from, means "to seize," and was used to signify both activities.

However, if you can suggest a suitable alternative, I'll be happy to replace it.

[WCLinolVir]

18. Looting and raping have always existed separate from each other.

So stop using language as an excuse for YES, dismissive, reductive statements that refer to womens bodies as loot. It is called objectification. It is dehumanizing. Serial rapists rarely steal goods. Robbers don't usually rape. Please evolve. I really don't care about the Latin root, as language evolves as well.
Join the movement.

[ucrdem]

19. In war zones they unfortunately exist together

and have for some time. My point is that the assaults and rapes that have occurred over the last two years at Tahrir square, which are extremely unfortunate, point to the use of mercenaries.

[ananda]

16. That's an interesting take I hadn't thought of.

But it makes some sense.

Mercenaries and plants might well be inclined to rape, and not just only
for their own powertrip pleasure. It could also be a way to demonize
and undermine the movement towards freedom.

[Bonobo]

2. Now THAT is rape culture. nt

[L0oniX]

3. Sounds like the US military is already there.

[DURHAM D]

4. not funny

[L0oniX]

5. See post #1

"There's a long history of such types being used to swell crowds by coup engineers, typically being US or UK intel outfits."

[DURHAM D]

6. You seriously think that the largest demonstration in history

was actually the US and UK military? Don't you think someone would have noticed and reported on all those buses arriving in the country. silly

[L0oniX]

8. The US has an interest in a defeating a politically Islamic Brotherhood government.

It'd be naive to believe the US would never interfere there or anywhere else. You must be seeing shit if you think I was saying the US sent buses to Egypt.

[DURHAM D]

11. You are the one who defended your misogyny by

referencing the nonsense in post one.

jftr - No liberal, progressive or regular Democrat would ever make a joke about rape on Democratic Underground as you did in your first post in this thread.

[L0oniX]

13. That's pretty twisted ...I made a joke about rape? Wow Kool-Aid much?

[leftstreet]

14. I didn't read it as a joke about rape

To me it was a sardonic observation about US military rape culture

But maybe I'm wrong

[WCLinolVir]

9. Just because they're protesting doesn't make them human rights advocates. Obviously misogyny

is alive and well there.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. read this today. wish i hadnt

[oberliner]

15. Very upsetting

I understand your reaction - but I do think it's better to get it out in the open. Hopefully some action will be taken. I know there are groups now that have served as bodyguards at these protests to help protect against such attacks.

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. agreed