The ruling against virginity tests in military prisons dominates the front pages of Egypt’s independent press on Wednesday. Ibrahim had filed a case after being subjected to so-called virginity tests in a military prison while detained for protesting in March.
Privately owned Al-Shorouk leads with the headline, “The virginity test girl victorious over the soldier in historic court judgment.” The article reports that the court found the tests to be criminal acts and violations of women’s bodies.
Privately owned Al-Tahrir leads with a similar story, including a response from the military judicial authority that the court ruling cannot be implemented because there is nothing in the statutes governing military prisons that allow for the practice in the first place. The statement concludes that any virginity test is the sole responsibility of the doctor who conducted it and who is criminally liable. Incidentally, the doctor who examined Samira Ibrahim, the women who filed the lawsuit against the practice, is slated to face military trial on 3 January, according to the paper.
State-owned Al-Ahram also covers the ruling, reporting that the court ruling is binding on all state institutions, including the military and the police. It also reports the military response that the decision cannot be implemented.
Al-Ahram leads with quotes from new Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim regarding efforts to restore security to Egypt’s streets. Ibrahim stated that the police will not interfere in any protests nor disperse them by force, and would only provide security. He also said there would be many changes in the police force in line with its new motto, “the police are in the service of the people,” according to the paper.
Former President Hosni Mubarak’s trial resumed today, and the independent daily Al-Tahrir reports that the deposed president is in good health and can walk and does not need to lie in bed during the trial as he did during previous sessions.
Privately-owned Al-Wafd reports that presiding judge, Ahmed Refaat, will decide which witnesses to summon from among the 6000 names included in the case files.
The independent daily Al-Shorouk runs a series of articles on the fate of Egypt’s next constitution and ongoing negotiations between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military. The paper writes that there is an understanding between the Brotherhood and Egypt’s military rulers over having a mixed presidential and parliamentary system and a compromise over military privileges.
Al-Shorouk reports that the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party is preparing a constitutional draft to be proposed to the public. Meanwhile, the military has reportedly assigned a number of constitutional experts to draw up a separate draft constitution.
The Freedom and Justice Party newspaper seems to support a mixed system, reporting that many political forces and potential presidential candidates agree this is the best way forward. Party chief Mohamed Morsy told the newspaper that a system which divides power between the president and parliament is best until stability is achieved. When the country is more secure, political forces may choose to reform the system to make it purely parliamentary, Morsy added.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
