Frank Rejects Invitation from Egyptian Government
News Release
From
Barney Frank
Congressman, 4th District, Massachusetts
Washington Office:
2210 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5931
February 4, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel McGlinchey 202.225.5931
Today Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) released a letter to the Egyptian embassy
in Washington, D.C. forcefully declining an invitation to attend a dinner
discussion sponsored by the Egyptian government to increase cross-cultural
understanding with members of Congress.
In his letter to the Minister for Political and Congressional Affairs at
the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Frank criticizes Egypt’s harsh
treatment of gays, and states "Indeed, I would feel it a betrayal of men
very much like me who have recently been brutally arrested and imprisoned by
your government for no reason other than the way in which they chose to
express affection to other human beings in a mutually consenting relationship.
Enjoying the hospitality of those who have so harshly mistreated people
because of a basic characteristic of personality which they share with me is
not something I wish to do."
Last year, 52 men were arrested in Cairo, Egypt on suspicion of engaging in
consensual homosexual behavior, and 23 of these men were sentenced to hard
labor prison terms of between one and five years. The government of Egypt
continues to arrest and persecute men suspected of being gay.
In August, Rep. Frank organized a congressional letter to Egyptian
President Mubarak calling the arrest and prosecution of these men
indefensible. Frank also wrote a letter last fall to Egyptian Ambassador Nabil
Fahmy calling his government’s persecution of gay people inhumane and
completely counter to a fundamental respect for human rights
In his letter to the Minister of Political and Congressional Affairs, Frank
also states "I have written along with other Members of Congress to your
government urging them to alter this harsh policy which so blatantly violates
people’s human rights. To date I have not even had the courtesy of an
answer. Under these circumstances, I assume you understand why I have no
desire to spend a social evening in the company of you and others who are
perpetuating what seems to me a form of oppression against innocent people who
have done no harm to you or anyone else."
A copy of Frank’s letter is attached.
January 18, 2002
The Honorable Abderahman S. Abderahman
Minister for Political and Congressional Affairs
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Minister Abderahman,
I was interested in receiving the invitation you sent to a
dinner-discussion on Wednesday, January 30. What was particularly intriguing
to me was that you addressed this to me and my spouse. I am a gay man, and
while I am not legally allowed to marry, unfortunately in my opinion, for me
the equivalent of a spouse is the man with whom I have been sharing my life
since October 1998. While the topic seemed interesting and I admire your
effort to increase cross cultural understanding, I decline your invitation
because given the harsh attitude evinced by your government—and several
other Arab governments—towards gay men, I would not feel at all comfortable
in such a gathering.
Indeed, I would feel it a betrayal of men very much like me who have
recently been brutally arrested and imprisoned by your government for no
reason other than the way in which they chose to express affection to other
human beings in a mutually consenting relationship. Enjoying the hospitality
of those who have so harshly mistreated people because of a basic
characteristic of personality which they share with me is not something I wish
to do.
I have written along with other Members of Congress to your government
urging them to alter this harsh policy which so blatantly violates people’s
human rights. To date I have not even had the courtesy of an answer. Under
these circumstances, I assume you understand why I have no desire to spend a
social evening in the company of you and others who are perpetuating what
seems to me a form of oppression against innocent people who have done no harm
to you or anyone else.
BARNEY FRANK
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