On the second anniversary of the Egyptian uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak, disturbing reports are coming in of harassment and sexual assault as thousands gather to protest in Tahrir Square.
Just saw the most awful sexual assault. Woman stripped&screaming in stage area. Did my best to help, so confusing. #tahrir
— Tom Dale (@tom_d_) January 25, 2013
Assaulters pretending to help, hands pulling in every direction, everyone shouting, so hard to work out who's on her side. #endSH #tahrir
— Tom Dale (@tom_d_) January 25, 2013
The woman is out now in an ambulance.
— Tom Dale (@tom_d_) January 25, 2013
Video of end of mob assault. Those protecting her used belts, sticks and am improvised flame thrower. #tahrir http://t.co/3XaWntPw
— Cliff Cheney (@cliffcheney) January 25, 2013
Trying to get through #tahrir, but being groped. Stopped, stood to the side, man protecting 2 women says "it's dangerous now, harassment"
— Kristen McTighe (@KristenMcTighe) January 25, 2013
Harrasment started.Got groped,something happening under Hardees.Just walked in2it from back streets.Guys shouting harrasment.Got out #tahrir
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) January 25, 2013
I'm bloody lucky as I was alone-think girl was being attacked.Couldn't see or help. Just had to get out of there. #tahrir #hardees
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) January 25, 2013
Hearing that harassment, attacks on women near Hardee's in #Tahrir. This is where is always happens.
— Kristen McTighe (@KristenMcTighe) January 25, 2013
A Black Bloc demonstrator was reportedly involved in at least one incident.
Was just groped by a boy wearing Black Bloc anarchist group gear. Guess women's lib not on the agenda. #Tahrir #Jan25
— Erin Cunningham (@erinmcunningham) January 25, 2013
As Twitchy reported in November, the @TahrirBodyguard account was created to help mobilize volunteers to combat attacks on women in Tahrir Square. One of the victims brought to @TahrirBodyguard’s attention was reportedly a 14-year-old girl.
Until now, #TahrirBodyguard have tackled 2 incidents of Sexual Harassment in #Tahrir .If you see any incident, report it 01220100110
— DWB_كرامة بلا حدود (@TahrirBG_DWB) January 25, 2013
Some of our volunteers on the ground. Join us!our aim?to fight sexual harassment in #Egypt. #TahrirBodyguard #endSh pic.twitter.com/zpaFoM4o
— DWB_كرامة بلا حدود (@TahrirBG_DWB) January 25, 2013
14 years old girl being harrased by 2 men one is around 35 and the other is late 20s,our volunteers took her out #Tahrir
— DWB_كرامة بلا حدود (@TahrirBG_DWB) January 25, 2013
Until now, #TahrirBodyguard manager to put 5women out of danger.All were being assaulted.We need to raise awareness about this awful problem
— DWB_كرامة بلا حدود (@TahrirBG_DWB) January 25, 2013
@OpAntiSH is also reportedly responding to reports of assault and harassment.
So far 2 reported cases of mob sexual assaults one close to Hardees and the other close to Omar Makram. Call us if anything #OpAntiSh #EndSH
— قوةضدالتحرش/الاعتداء (@OpAntiSH) January 25, 2013
Our Hotlines in cases of mob sexual assaults /NOT FOR the media please 01202390087 / 01016051145 / 01157892357 #Tahrir #Egypt #Jan25
— قوةضدالتحرش/الاعتداء (@OpAntiSH) January 25, 2013
Love the way anti-harassment groups in Tahrir are organised to make protests safe for women. A good lesson for us in India too
— Sunny Singh (@sunnysingh_nw3) January 25, 2013
A revolution where women are terrorized by mob attacks and sexual violence isn’t what freedom looks like.
To simply put it…as long as women are getting harassed on the streets..we will not win this. and this is not a revolution.
— Sarah Naguib (@Sarahngb) January 25, 2013
But despite the violence, many women refuse to be silenced and continue to speak out against tyranny and oppression:
"All this talk of harassment is not keeping women away from the square – one nation, one voice" #Tahrir #jan25 #Egypt @PoliticallyAff
— Sarah Joon (@Farrah_Joon) January 25, 2013
Update:
More from Tahrir Square:
Horrendous attack on 2 women and a baby apparently just happened on #tahrir we have to stop these mob sex assaults. #Egypt
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) January 25, 2013
Can I reiterate mob sex attacks on women feel planned.They're happening simultaneously,multiply, reports guys are armed w/ knives #tahrir
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) January 25, 2013
The hashtag to follow is #endSH.
#endSH team doing amazing job trying to help women who are being attacked.It's happening everywhere. I swear this must be organised #tahrir
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) January 25, 2013
Related:
Impressive: Volunteers erect watchtowers to look out for sexual assaults in Tahrir Square
Horrible: Reports of sexual assaults on female protesters in Tahrir Square
Twitter suspends account of group combating sexual assault in Egyptian protests
Horrific: Young women brutally raped near Egyptian mosque
