In the late of night under the veil of darkness on February 11, 2011 in Cairo's Tahrir Square, amidst a newly liberated country's jubilation, an evil and barbarous crime was committed against a woman reporter that was on assignment for CBS News.
Laura Logan, a 39-year-old South Africa native and long time war correspondent, was forcefully separated from her camera crew by a mob of males and led to an area of the square where an unknown specific amount of "men" in a mob beat her and raped her.
Dedicated by professionalism... fearlessly driven to accurately report history
Driven by a professional and genuine journalistic conviction to report in "real time" the true and authentic flavor of Egypt's "peoples revolution", Logan without much consideration to her own personal safety, by-passed internal fears and committed herself to reporting and experiencing "up close and personal" the intrinsic yet overwhelming joy of humans experiencing the intoxicating affects of new-found liberty.
Immersing herself and her production crew in the inner mass of Tahrir square's revelry, Laura and her team quickly found themselves blanketed within a more threatening and sinister element of the crowd.
Within minutes of being drawn deep into the mayhem, the sounds of laughter and the sight of happy faces that once surrounded the News crew instantly transformed into angry voices and scowling looks; a perilous sign that the crew were now in imminent danger.
Like hungry vultures descending from a foul perch upon a wounded lamb, a number of males (a rapist is not a man) that were consumed with despicable and disgusting intentions, forcefully separated Laura Logan from the safety of her camera crew and viciously assaulted her.
A group of Egyptian women and soldiers that witnessed the atrocity came to Logan's defense, tearing at the frenzied attackers until the beaten and violated reporter was pulled to safety.
"She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers," CBS said in a statement.
Logan has a long and distinguished resume that reflects her courage and commitment as a reporter in many of the world's "hot spots". The fearless journalist gained recognition as a war correspondent for Britain's GMTV at the beginning of the Afghanistan war in 2001 and later reported on the war in Iraq. She joined CBS News in 2002.
The day after the brutal attack, Logan was flown back to the United States for medical treatment and counseling. She is currently recuperating at home with family and friends. At the writing of this piece no arrests have been made in connection to the rape.
The majority of the world has rightfully condemned this despicable crime committed by "imitators of men" that prey on defenseless women.
Unfortunately, there has been a small percentage of bloggers and media pundits that have ridiculed and even callously scorned Laura Logan, blaming her for the rape.
One only can wonder if this lot of classless disseminators of "News" are of the same human race that most of us proclaim to be a member of.
In the end they leave us believing that like the rapists that viciously beat and violated Laura Logan, there is little about them or within them that one would call "human".
Only time will tell if Laura Logan will ever completely overcome the physical and psychological scars of rape.
Rest assure, "real human beings" are cheering for the spunky reporter's speedy recovery and for the divine gift of super-human strength / dignity that will eventually empower Laura Logan to look back at this horrific crime with "head held high", all the while giving thanks that she's still alive and ready to continue on her trek to find professional self-fulfillment.
Without a doubt the majority of the folk down here in the bayou are pulling for her to succeed. Get well soon Laura Logan.
As always, the New Orleans Examiner is interested in what you think. Should women reporters be given life-threatening assignments without the backing of security? Or would providing women journalists with security breach a code of some "imagined" journalistic code of bravado? Inquiring minds want to know. Sound off.
Until next time Louisianans, Good Day, God Bless and Good Fishing.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/following_attack_reporter_former_X4WK8V1F1lAjTJePpikvQI
Comments
This happens daily in Egypt. She put herself into a sitution were this could happen. I feel sorry for her but it is like telling a child do not touch the stove it is hot and they touch it. Who saved her another group of women. Why did she put herself in a place were this would happen?
This is not her fault Ed. She is a journalist. Should women journalist be barred from reporting in all the "hot spots" in the world? I argue that CBS should have provide ALL their journalists that go "thick" into the action with better security. Maybe not armed, but well muscled and trained to protect each other. Perhaps this is a new industry that deserves thought. Thanks for your comment. GB
After it is all said and done it is a shame that anybody in thjs case a women should be subject to what borderlines on a group that at best can be called barbarions with no respect for women or a women who is trying to show the misery that these people are in and for this she ges her greatest dignity taking away from her by the very people that trying to show the world that they are like us.......GOD is praying for us all in theses tough times when all of us should be praying for him and that he touch our hearts
Too bad Rambo is not around to bring those beasts to justice. What they did makes me lose my belief in the human race. Revolutions that help people are great...but this makes me want to withdraw support from a people that tolerate this kind of behavior!
What happened was despicable, but you cannot blame an entire people for the actions of a few. And yes, I too wish that John Rambo was a real person who had caught the scum before they raped this innocent woman. Maybe justice would have been served. GB
I just want to know what kind of man would see such a thing, assist the victim and not shoot that animal were he stood! WHAT is the military for any way? they suppose to protect people!
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