Doctor acquitted in 'virginity test' trial

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CAIRO, March 11 (UPI) -- An Egyptian court acquitted a military doctor accused of forcibly administering "virginity tests" to imprisoned female protesters, officials said Sunday.

The military tribunal found Dr. Ahmad Adel innocent on the grounds of conflicting testimonies, Gulf News reported.

"It is as if we have returned to the Mubarak era, where the government and the military can get away with anything," student Noha told Bikyamasr.com after the verdict was announced.

A group of female activists, lead by Samira Ibrahim, yelled "down with the military," while supporters of the decision shouted "God is great." Ibrahim has been leading the charge against the practice; however, no women's rights organization has taken up her case.

Even though the courts ordered a stop on virginity tests in December, Human Rights Watch says it had little faith in the trial's success in a military court, saying it should instead by tried in a civilian court.

Ibrahim was one of the prisoners allegedly asked to remove her clothes and be examined by Adel in front of soldiers. When she asked to be examined in private, she says she was assaulted.