Imagine seeking police assistance after being gang raped - and finding yourself behind bars. This is what happened to 22-year-old A.F., who was arrested on charges of homosexual conduct after he went to a police station in the southern Tunisian town of Sfax in January to report the assault.
Instead of treating A.F. as a victim in need of support, police detained him and subjected him to a forced anal examination at a local hospital. These unscientific and invasive "exams," in which doctors penetrate a victim with a finger or an object to assess whether they "habitually" engage in anal sex, violate international law and can be traumatic for anyone who undergoes them - let alone a rape victim. Badr Baabou, the president of Damj, a Tunisian rights organization providing A.F. with legal support, said the exam results were "negative"and that despite searching through his phone and social media accounts, prosecutors presented no evidence against A.F. at all.
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