Best known on the international stage as a plaintiff in Egypt’s “virginity test” case this year, Samira Ibrahim is an outspoken activist, fighting for respect for women’s rights. In the midst of protests in Egypt’s Tahrir Square last year, Ms. Ibrahim and six other female protesters were arrested and subjected to a “virginity test” in a military prison. Ms. Ibrahim sued the military, and in December the practice was ruled illegal. Months later, a military court exonerated the doctor charged with administering the tests, causing what Ibrahim called a threat to women’s rights by both the military and Islamists.
“It takes a strong person to stand up for what is right in the face of ostracism and public scrutiny,” said Charlize Theron, who wrote Ibrahim’s entry for TIME. “Samira represents the model of how to stand up to fear, and the impact she has made reaches far beyond Egypt.”
