A British teen has told how Egyptian airport security guards forced her to undergo a ‘traumatic’ sex check – because they didn’t believe she was a girl.
Caitlyn Disley, 15, was stunned when she was ordered to lift her bra and prove she didn’t have male genitalia when she arrived at Hurghada International Airport.
She had been travelling with the family of her girlfriend Olivia when she was made to undergo the invasive inspection in front of a nurse.
The family were only able to leave the terminal when the foreign officials were satisfied she was female – as was stated on her passport.
British teen, Caitlyn Disley, 15, was ordered to lift her bra and prove she didn’t have male genitalia when she arrived at Hurghada International Airport in Egypt
She had been travelling with the family of her girlfriend, Olivia, when she was made to undergo the invasive inspection. The family were only able to leave the terminal when the foreign officials were satisfied Caitlyn was female – as was stated on her passport
Caitlyn said the only change in her appearance with the photo on her travel documents was that she had shorter hair. Caitlyn’s father, Tom Disley, said: ‘Caitlyn is a tomboy but her passport says she is a girl, and the picture is clearly of the holder, shorter hair or not’
Caitlyn said the only change in her appearance with the photo on her travel documents was that she had shorter hair.
And she had been left shocked and ’embarrassed’ by what had taken place.
Caitlyn said: ‘It was traumatising and embarrassing. I’ve never been put through anything like that before.’
Her father Tom Disley, 40, said he wanted to highlight his daughter’s ordeal so others were wary of encountering similar situations in Egypt.
Father-of-six Tom, a caretaker, said: ‘It’s been a horrible experience for Caitlyn and I think it has hit her more now that she is back home.
‘She was able to put it to the back of her mind while they were away but there was the worry of it happening all again at Hurghada Airport on the way home.
‘Caitlyn is a tomboy but her passport says she is a girl, and the picture is clearly of the holder, shorter hair or not.
‘Me, her dad, and her brothers have never seen Caitlyn in such distress. She had two males standing in front of her, saying they wanted to see parts of her body.’
Caitlyn’s father, Tom, said he wanted to raise awareness that other travellers from Britain may encounter similar incidents when travelling to Egypt in the future.
The group had booked to stay at a resort on the Red Sea for ten days so they could soak up the sunshine before the start of the school term
Tom, who lives with Caitlyn, in Wigan, Gtr Manchester, said she had been looking forward to the trip with her girlfriend, known as Liv, and her family.
They had booked to stay at a resort on the Red Sea for ten days so they could soak up the sunshine before the start of the school term.
But not long after they had got off their plane on August 25, Tom said two officials approached Caitlyn and then ordered her to ‘strip’ in front of a nurse.
He said: ‘She, Liv and Liv’s parents landed in Egypt and after disembarking, two gentlemen from security kept checking her passport then looking at her, but eventually let them all go through.
‘But the party’s bags were last to come through and so they were practically on their own when these two men came up again and said they needed to check something.
‘Liv’s mum asked if there was anyone who could speak English because there were some communication confusions.
‘They didn’t have anyone but eventually got the message across that they needed to check she was female and she was taken into a room.
‘At first I think the men themselves wanted to look at her intimately.
‘But Liv’s mum put her foot down and they found a female nurse. I’ve no idea if she had anything to do with the airport.
‘She asked Caitlyn to lift her sports bra and then the message was conveyed that they needed to ‘look down there.’
‘Liv’s mum said ‘not a chance’ and they compromised by Caitlyn pulling her shorts tight to show she didn’t have any male genitalia. Then they were allowed to go.’
In Egypt, same-sex sexual activity is prohibited between men, with acts of ‘indecency’, ‘scandalous acts’, and ‘debauchery’ criminalised, according to non-profit group The Human Dignity Trust.
The organisation adds that there have been ‘consistent reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBT people in Egypt’.
And they say this has included ‘abuse, harassment, forced anal examinations, and the forced payment of bribes.’
The family has since taken their case to their MP Lisa Nandy, whose team has told them she plans to discuss it with the relevant government minister
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We do not comment on individual cases involving children but our staff stand ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7’
Tom said he wanted to raise awareness that other travellers from Britain may encounter similar incidents when travelling to Egypt in the future.
The family has since taken their case to their MP Lisa Nandy, whose team has told them she plans to discuss it with the relevant government minister.
Tom added: ‘We need to get the message out there. Caitlin doesn’t want this happening to anyone else. It could be a 10 or 11-year-old next.
‘We are not looking to prosecute anyone. It’s just we’re against anyone else – especially children – having to face humiliation like that.’
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We do not comment on individual cases involving children but our staff stand ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7.
‘The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and UK embassies, high commissions and consulates can help British nationals abroad in a range of circumstances.’
The Egyptian consulate in London has been contacted for comment.
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