'The girls of Egypt are here': women defy military

[canetoad]

David Kirkpatrick
December 22, 2011

THOUSANDS of women have marched through Cairo to call for the end of military rule in an extraordinary expression of anger over images of soldiers beating, stripping and kicking female demonstrators in the capital's Tahrir Square.

''Drag me, strip me, my brothers' blood will cover me!'' they chanted. ''Where is the field marshal?'' they demanded, referring to Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling military council. ''The girls of Egypt are here.''

The event may have been the biggest women's demonstration in Egypt's history, and the most significant since a 1919 march against British rule. The scale was stunning, and unexpected in this strictly patriarchal society.

Previous efforts to organise women's events in Tahrir Square this year have either fizzled or, in at least one case, ended in the physical harassment of the few women who did turn out.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/the-girls-of-egypt-are-here-women-defy-military-20111221-1p5ol.html

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Solidarity, sisters!

[Athame]

2. great video. Thank you, Canetoad! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, canetoad.

[DURHAM D]

4. My heart and my hopes got out to them.

But what is with the "girls" thing? They are women.

[canetoad]

6. I knew someone would pick up on that

It seems to be the words used by the women. I guess if they are out in Tahrir Square, they are allowed to call themselves anything they like.

[DURHAM D]

5. Lets add SOS Clinton's speech on the 19th of December to this thread.

"Hillary Clinton says Egypt is failing its women"

In unusually strong language, the US secretary of state accused Egypt's new leaders of mistreatment of women both on the street and in politics since the street revolt nearly a year ago that overthrew leader Hosni Mubarak. "This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonours the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people," Mrs Clinton said in a speech at Georgetown University.

In images widely seen over YouTube, helmeted troops were shown beating a veiled woman after having ripped her clothes off to reveal her bra and stomach.

"Recent events in Egypt have been particularly shocking. Women are being beaten and humiliated in the same streets where they risked their lives for the revolution only a few short months ago," Mrs Clinton said. She denounced a "deeply troubling pattern" of military authorities and the major political parties alike keeping Egyptian women out of decision-making.

"At the same time, they have been specifically targeted both by security forces and extremists," the top US diplomat said.

"Women protesters have been rounded up and subjected to horrific abuse. Journalists have been sexually assaulted and now women are being attacked, stripped and beaten in the streets."



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8967424/Hillary-Clinton-says-Egypt-is-failing-its-women.html

[canetoad]

7. This line

"At the same time, they have been specifically targeted both by security forces and extremists,"

They are between a rock and a hard place. I am absolutely overawed by their courage in taking to the streets.

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. To happily quote The Planet Rock, "Go Ladies!"

[midnight]

9. K&R....

[noiretextatique]

10. supporting the women of Eqypt

and kudos to sos clinton for speaking out.

[joshcryer]

11. Extremely brave women, incredible!

:thumbup:

[pampango]

12. Egypt attacks ‘foreign interference’ over abuse of women

Egypt has reacted angrily to what it has denounced as “foreign interference” in response to international condemnation of the abuse of women by the army. Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr said the country would not accept any interference in its internal affairs.

Images showing a female protester being beaten and dragged along the ground by soldiers have caused outrage at home and abroad. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned what she called the “systematic degradation of Egyptian women”.

Ghada Kamal Abdel Khaleq, said to be the troops’ victim, posted a video on the internet saying she was attacked as she took part in a protest near government buildings. “An officer threatened me with death. He said ‘I’ve got my eye on you, I won’t let you go’,” she said.

The abuse prompted thousands of women to protest in Cairo on Tuesday against their treatment by soldiers. The international organisation Human Rights Watch said attacks by the military had risen. It dismissed the ruling council’s claims that abuse was being investigated, saying the poor record of the Mubarak regime was continuing.

http://www.euronews.net/2011/12/21/egypt-attacks-foreign-interference-over-abuse-of-women/

It's good to know that Egypt "will not accept" criticism of its military's abuse of women. You know a government has done something really wrong when it plays the ol' "foreign interference" in our "internal affairs" card as if "national sovereignty" trumps human rights.