"Egyptian woman alleges police raped her" by Associated Press | August 7, 2010
CAIRO — An Egyptian woman wearing a black veil alleged in a television interview that police raped her after she stopped to ask for directions in a rural area.
The allegations add fodder to a growing debate in Egypt about police abuse, which human rights groups say is frequent.
I expect the U.S. embassy to issue a statement any minute now.
Protests and online campaigns began in June when a 28-year-old man died after an alleged beating by police officers. The two officers are charged with using excessive force, but not charged with killing Khaled Said.
See: Egyptian Cops
While the government denies police brutality is pervasive, rights groups say officers act with impunity because they are rarely taken to task for abuses.
The woman, who was not identified, sobbed as she described the alleged attack. Her voice breaking, she said two men took turns raping her in the back of a police van on a dark, rural road after she asked them for directions.
“I am heartbroken because I thought the police were the source of security for us, the people,’’ she said.
She filed a police complaint, but the attackers have not been apprehended. She said the attackers also stole her rings, mobile phone, and money.
The video of the interview went viral in days, and a group started a Facebook campaign on her behalf.
The UN quoted Egypt’s Interior Ministry as saying that 20,000 women and girls are raped in that country every year, a figure that is probably low because victims rarely come forward, fearing social stigma.
But the woman said she felt compelled to come forward as a warning for others.
Her lawyer told the TV station that a police investigation had recognized the rape took place but did not identify the attackers as police officers. There was no immediate comment from government officials.--more--"
Maybe the Egyptians could get some change?
"Signs point to Egyptian leader’s son as successor" by Maggie Michael, Associated Press | August 23, 2010
Maybe not.
CAIRO — Posters have sprouted up around Egypt promoting President Hosni Mubarak’s younger son as the next leader in the most overt campaign yet for a controversial father-son succession in this country, a key US ally.
For the past decade, it has been believed that Gamal Mubarak is being groomed to succeed his 82-year-old father, who has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years. But the idea of a father-son succession has raised deep opposition among many Egyptians.
Even some within the ruling party are thought to be unconvinced, and Gamal — a 46-year-old investment banker-turned-politician — has little popular base.
The posters suggest Gamal’s supporters within the party are making a push to shore up his position with the most public campaign to date in support of his candidacy. The signs — some touting the business-suit-wearing Gamal as “the dream of the poor’’ — appeared around Cairo and other cities over the past few weeks. Campaign leaders are also collecting signatures for a “Yes to Gamal’’ petition.
While the ruling National Democratic Party strongly denied any connection between the party and the pro-Gamal campaign, a party official privately told the AP that the posters were meant to be a trial balloon for Gamal’s popularity in the street. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
The question of who will lead Egypt after Hosni Mubarak has taken on increased urgency amid concerns about the aging president’s health following surgery in Germany earlier this year....
Yeah, he hasn't looked very well in the rare appearances he has made.
Ruling party candidates are virtually assured of victory in elections, which are usually plagued by widespread vote fraud....
And the U.S. never complains?
--more--"
Related: Mubarek's Dying Wish
According to the press he is coming here next week (if he lives that long).
Think Israel will grant the request?
Also see: Egypt: The More Things Change....
You know the rest.
