Egypt: Arrests of Suspected Gays Continue
Gay.com U.K.,
January 22, 2002
SUMMARY: In what activists fear may be a growing pattern, Egypt has
arrested eight more men on suspicion of homosexual behavior.
In what activists fear may be a growing pattern of persecution, Egypt has
arrested eight more men on suspicion of homosexual behavior.
The arrests occurred roughly two months after the conclusion of a highly
publicized trial of 52 Cairo men for suspected homosexuality.
The independent newspaper Al-Wafd reported that the eight men were arrested
for the "practice of debauchery" in Damanhour, southwest of
Alexandria. Address books were confiscated with contacts the police claim were
"perverts."
The paper reported that the men were arrested after police raided an
apartment and found them in a variety of sexual positions wearing nightgowns
and makeup.
Damanhour prosecutor Yaseen Zaghloul ordered that the men be subjected to
medical examinations of their genitals.
"Enough is enough! The government of Egypt must stop these arrests
now," said Scott Long, program director for the International Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission. "Too many people are sitting in jail
whose only crime is to be suspected of homosexuality."
The new arrests came just as the trial of four men arrested for
homosexuality in Cairo on Nov. 10 opened. Their trial has now been postponed
until next week.
Last year 52 men were arrested at a boat party on the Nile and accused of
homosexual acts. After trial in a military court with no appeal rights, 23
were sentenced to prison terms with hard labor.
Homosexuality is considered taboo in Egypt, but it is not expressly
forbidden by law.
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