Images of Rape Spark Outrage in Guinea

Political demonstrations in Guinea have led to the circulation of cell phone snapshots depicting rape against Guinean women. Guinean human rights activist Souleymane Bah told Reuters, "I saw soldiers strip women naked, spread their legs and stamp on their privates with their boots."

Approximately 50,000 unarmed civilians assembled on September 28th to protest Captain Moussa Dadis Camara's plan to run in the January election. Captain Camara leads a military junta whose personnel opened fire on the crowd, beating and stabbing hundreds and brutally raping dozens of women in broad daylight.

Sidya Toure, a former prime minister who was part of the protest, told the New York Times, "This time, a new stage has been reached. Women as battlefield targets. We could never have imagined that." The use of rape as a weapon of war is a common and prevalent tactic. France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said France would no longer work with Camara and called for "international intervention." Captain Camara has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attacks.

Media Resources: New York Times 10/5/09; Reuters 9/29/09

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