Radio Free Europe has exposed a disturbing practice unfolding in Turkmenistan where female students under the age of 18 are compelled to undergo mandatory gynaecological examinations, even without their parent’s approval. These examinations specifically aim to assess their virginity.

In the coastal province of Balkan in Turkmenistan, secondary school girls are compulsorily subjected to ‘virginity tests’. According to officials, these tests are deemed necessary to evaluate the morality of teenage girls. The procedure came to light when education staff and parents of the teenage girls reported it to Radio Free Europe. Shockingly, the authorities did not seek permission from the parents before subjecting their daughters to examinations by gynaecologists.

"In the cities of Balkanabat and Turkmenbashi, all female students from 9th to 11th grades are being forced to undergo the gynaecological examination. A list of the girls who are identified during the tests as having had sexual intercourse is being shared with the local police department and the National Security Ministry," reported a man working in education who asked Radio Free Europe for anonymity. The students concerned are between the ages of 14 and 16.

An informant in the provincial capital Balkanabat reported that "law enforcement officers explained that this is being done to identify and bring to justice people who have had intimate relationships with minors." According to the Radio Free Europe sources, police are checking the mobile phones of the girls for information about suspected sexual contacts.

So-called ‘virginity tests’ are not uncommon in Turkmenistan, a country where the authoritarian government exerts extensive control over its citizens’ lives. Back in 2018, a series of unannounced raids were carried out by police and security officers, accompanied by gynaecologists, at schools in the northern Dashoguz region.

During these raids, male students’ mobile phones were scrutinised for any ‘adult videos’ while female students were assembled in the school nurse’s office to undergo ‘virginity tests’ as reported by eyewitnesses.

"Some of the girls were discovered not to be virgins during the tests, and their parents were summoned and shamed in front of everyone at the school," a source close to the matter told RFE/RL at the time.

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan has been governed by an oppressive authoritarian regime, initially led by Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov and continued by his successors. The country faces widespread criticism due to its human rights violations, ill-treatment of minority groups, and severe restrictions on media freedom.

In Turkmenistan:

• Internet access is heavily filtered, and government-unapproved websites are blocked.
• Residents of Turkmenistan are denied access to opposition news media, YouTube, several social media platforms, and encrypted instant messaging services.
• The use of VPNs to bypass censorship is strictly prohibited.

Radio Free Europe attempted to seek comments from government officials in the Balkan province, but unfortunately, no response was received.

Source: rferl.org