Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Egypt's anti-coup alliance has begun documenting incidents of sexual assault reported by its previously detained female supporters with a view to taking legal action against the perpetrators, according to a leading alliance member.

Hisham Kamal told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy had formed hearing committees for released female detainees who said they had been subject to varying degrees of sexual assault, including rape, during their time in detention.

"Violating girls is a red line that cannot be left unpunished," Kamal said, citing reports that four detained female alliance supporters had been raped while in prison last week.

Kamal asserted that the alliance planned to "take action" once the committees concluded their hearings.

Ehab Shiha, another leading alliance member and leader of the Salafist Asala Party, told AA that his party had collected testimony from four female activists who said they had been raped while in police custody in Cairo.

Shiha said his party also planned to take legal action based on the testimonies.
A security source, however, denied the allegations.

"These claims are aimed at turning international public opinion against Egypt," he told AA.
"They should either present their evidence to the prosecution or be quiet," he said.

Egypt's military-backed government has launched a wide-ranging arrest campaign against supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi since the latter's overthrow last July by Egypt's military establishment.

Thousands are now believed to be in detention on multiple charges in Egyptian prisons and police stations.

*World Bulletin
Earlier this month, a number of detained activists alleged that they had been subjected to torture at the hands of security forces, drawing condemnation from local rights groups.