Iman Al-Obeidi

Above is the anguished but brave face of defiance displayed by Iman Al-Obeidi towards Colonel Gaddafi and his detested henchmen. Iman broke through a security cordon to reach the world's press yesterday and tell reporters of how she was held prisoner and raped by 15 of Gaddafi's soldiers. Her horrifying story was abruptly ended when Gaddafi's henchmen and press minders moved in on her before dragging her away protesting. She may only be one woman but it is beholden upon every right thinking person in the world to demand her release from whichever Gaddafi prison she may now languish in. Below you can see her try to get her story out on video before being dragged away. To their credit, two western reporters try to intervene to protect her which given the hostile nature of Gaddafi's thugs towards western media was brave. But the true face of bravery yesterday belongs to Iman Al-Obeidi. Let's hope she can be freed and placed in a place of safety.

*Update 28/02/2011* 

The Libyan government says a woman who stormed into a Tripoli hotel Saturday to tell foreign reporters that government troops raped her is now with her family.

The government says four men were interrogated in the case, including the son of a high-ranking police officer.