Authoritarian excess is nothing new in Turkmenistan. But a recent government mandate that all female high school students in a seaside province undergo “virginity testing” marks another low point. The tests are not just an outrageous violation of individual rights, they are ineffective in determining whether a woman is sexually active. Turkmen authorities in Balkan Province, which sits astride the Caspian Sea, are forcing girls to endure gynecological exams without the consent of parents or guardians, RFE/RL has reported. Officials contend the tests are needed to ensure “moral” behavior. Those…