By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, numerous women have been subjected to extreme sexual violence, including the insertion of foreign objects into their reproductive organs. Survivors, like Tseneat, have had objects such as screws, nail clippers, and notes with threatening messages surgically extracted from their bodies. These notes, often written by Eritrean soldiers, explicitly state their intent to make Tigrayan women infertile, aiming to destroy the ethnic group. Despite a ceasefire, sexual violence persists, with limited access to medical care, and justice for these atrocities remains elusive.
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Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… It’s difficult to even begin to process the brutality described, isn’t it? Reading that headline, and then the details that followed, felt like descending into a nightmare. It’s the kind of horror that stays with you, a constant weight in the mind. The callous intent behind the actions, as evidenced by the notes, is chilling. To actively plan and carry out the destruction of a group of people in such a way is… well, there aren’t words to adequately describe it.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… The sheer scale of the atrocities is almost incomprehensible. The stories shared, the individual accounts of suffering, are heartbreaking. It’s almost overwhelming to consider that these are just a few glimpses into the experiences of thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, of women. The scars, both physical and psychological, are immeasurable. Sister Mulu’s words, “I’m very traumatised,” echo the experiences of so many, a testament to the deep, lasting wounds inflicted.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… The silence surrounding this conflict, the lack of widespread outrage and media coverage, is deeply disturbing. While the world’s attention seems focused elsewhere, the suffering in Tigray continues. The numbers, the estimated deaths from violence and starvation, paint a picture of genocide. The fact that a probe into these atrocities was cancelled, just three days before October 7th, is just another layer of betrayal. It’s a stark reminder that these atrocities are happening, that people are suffering, and that the world isn’t always paying attention.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… Thinking about the specific methods used, the insertion of objects like rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish… It’s difficult to fathom the depravity involved. The deliberate intent to inflict pain, to destroy bodies, to inflict permanent damage, it’s a horrifying escalation of war’s inherent brutality. The article brings these events vividly to life. The questions of how and why, of how such actions are justified, linger, unanswered and unanswerable.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… The loss of life, the violence, the systemic rape and torture – it’s all a grotesque weapon of war. It’s beyond the pale. It’s the kind of horror that makes you feel physically sick. I think it’s also worth mentioning how the dissolving of medical care, including psychological counseling, compounds the trauma. These women are left not only with the burden of their physical and emotional scars but also without the support they need to heal.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… The fact that this is happening in a specific location, in Tigray, and involves actors like the Eritrean forces fighting alongside the Ethiopian government is important. It’s a conflict rooted in political tensions and historical grievances. The fact that these actions were not only perpetrated, but celebrated, is a testament to the depravity. The idea that the goal was to make Tigrayan women infertile… it’s a goal born of hatred and a desire for destruction.
Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against Tigray’s women… Let’s address the focus that some people take to distract from the main issues. Sexual violence as entertainment is a completely different issue and it’s certainly a concerning trend, but to make it the primary focus is to diminish the severity and significance of what’s happening here. It normalizes the abuse of a group of people.