Teenager told she had to strip by airport security to prove she was a girl

[OnlinePoker]

A British teenager has recounted a distressing ordeal where she was compelled to undress in front of airport officials in Egypt for a "traumatic" sex verification check after they doubted her gender.

Caitlyn Disley, 15, had just arrived at Hurghada Airport when she was subjected to the humiliating procedure by security personnel. She was instructed to expose herself to confirm she did not possess male genitalia, with her and her partner's family claiming they were barred from leaving the terminal until the invasive examination was completed by a nurse, reports the Mirror.

After the checks confirmed her gender matched the one on her passport, they were allowed to depart, but Caitlyn has been left with deep-seated unease from the incident. She expressed feeling shocked and "embarrassed" about the events that unfolded. Caitlyn noted that the only difference from her passport photo was her shorter hairstyle. Caitlyn remarked: "It was traumatising and embarrassing. I've never been put through anything like that before."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/teenager-told-strip-airport-security-29959146

[barbtries]

1. well, it wasn't in the cards anyway,

but i'm steering clear of Egypt. That's horrific.

i hope she can contact a lawmaker in her country to lodge an international complaint and maybe this won't happen to anyone else.

[hlthe2b]

3. Not going to happen. See my post below.

[hlthe2b]

2. I'm sorry for her that she went through this. That said, Egypt is not the worst and Western women often go through this

kind of harassment--similar issues, not identical--working in the Middle East. As one who did stints in S. Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon (as well as a short time in Israel, which I am not comparing), I can attest. I knew ahead of time that I needed to mind my "p's and q's," that I was not in the "West" and that I could not expect the same considerations and protections as if I were. Note: I am NOT suggesting she did ANYTHING wrong.

However, I think she was not prepared for M.E. travel. I am not excusing the Egyptian's TSA-equivalent behavior but I have dealt with some inappropriate questioning and issues myself. Even while I find her treatment abhorrent, she should have been forewarned and I don't think she was. I can assure you that British consulate inquiries or complaints will go nowhere. Just as in Russia, when Brittney Griner was detained for her hash oil-containing vape cartridge... Their country, their rules, and processes. That said, Egypt was not one I typically had problems with, albeit their current government may have led to some changes.

I should say that Egypt is not S. Arabia and I spent a lot of time there--enjoying it immensely whether working or for pleasure and I was ALWAYS there as a single woman--albeit I did not act as they might have expected of a typical American. Most thought I was Canadian. But, it isn't the US or Europe and you have to realize that.

[haele]

9. With the international right wing autocratic propaganda ramping up focus on gender roles,

It's not unexpected that more religiously conservative countries will be concerned with ensuring no one coming into the country can possibly corrupt the social virtue they are trying to construct.
It's not consistent with human rights, but then, conservative countries are notorious for their interpretation of what conformity to international human rights is.
We all travel at our own risks, unfortunately.

Haele

[hlthe2b]

10. That is possible, but also not unlikely that they have had problem with fake passports and that would lead to this.

I was behind someone years ago whose passport photo looked not at all like the person (in this case, a male). That led to considerable delay while he was initially questioned, forced to provide additional photo IDs, and taken in back for further ID checks (presumedly the phone call type)...


If she did not look like her photo at all (albeit I cannot imagine a mere short haircut would justify such skepticism), then they will do all possible to prove or disprove.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Invasive genital searches happen all the time in the U.S. as well for the same reasons

[Joinfortmill]

18. Oops

[Biophilic]

5. Good grief, what kind of a world do you live in?

I'm 78, traveled a lot, but never the Middle East. I've never had anything approaching that kind of treatment in any situation, traveling or not. I'm sorry you live in the world you do. I doesn't sound pleasant at all. Even more than the normal misogynistic one I live in.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. what the fuck is this shit right here

[obamanut2012]

14. I see I missed some horrific comment

Thanks for calling it out.

[bluesbassman]

7. I'm a little curious how you draw the line between demeaning and embarrassing?

To me, spilling a Slurpee on your shirt in a crowded area constitutes an embarrassing moment, but to be forced to expose yourself to prove your gender? That is an act I can't even remotely relate to and certainly not one I would consider making me feel "slighted" or "upset". Especially if I was a teenage girl. I raised two of those, and I can assure you neither would have felt "slighted" or "upset". You certainly lose the Internet today with that tone deaf comment.

[Martin68]

12. The article reported that the girl herself termed the incident "embarrassing." Are you calling the victim "tone deaf?"

[bluesbassman]

13. The victim also said in the article she was "traumatized", which is not "slighted" or "upset".

So no I am not calling the victim tone deaf. So what's your angle here then?

[Martin68]

20. That is true, but you are scolding a poster for using the same word she did to describe her reaction. The poster made a

factual statement based on the victim's account. You can't criticize them for only using one of the words the victim used. She was, in her own opinion, embarrassed. Lighten up, please.

[elias7]

8. If we look at the Middle East through a Western lens, we may be shocked but we shouldn't be.

For example, I would personally not recommend that anyone in the Gaza-supporting LGBTQ community travel there, unless they be thrown off the building.

My wife was detained in the Israeli airport for hours, searched, computer searched, not a nice experience and no apologies. She had been director of a peace building program for Cypriot youths - half from Greek Christian south, half from Turkish Muslim, and had visited some Arab Israelis in the north of Israel prior to flying to Cyprus. On the way back, she was detained in Israel because of the many red flags raised. She was quite shaken by the experience, but on the other hand, their reality is much different than ours. They are looking for terrorists and suicide bombers, a long an integral part of their history. Aside from her being quite the opposite of that, they couldn’t read her mind.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Invasive searches based on gender presentation happen all the time in the U.S.

[Martin68]

11. Disgusting, distressing abuse of power. Just a preview of the effects right-wing paranoia about gender will have

if they gain power in the US.

[Joinfortmill]

17. This BS getting WAY out of hand.