Egypt
23 Egyptians sentenced for homosexuality, 29 freed

afrol News, 14 November - In an Egyptian trial that has outraged international rights groups, 23 men were today sentenced to prison for their alleged sexual orientation. The other 29 accused men were acquitted in the Cairo trial. 

Homosexuality is not illegal by Egyptian law, but is seen as a "shameful sin" (BBC) in the Egyptian society. The 52 allegedly homosexual men - arrested during a police raid on a Nile boat restaurant on 11 May - were thus charged with "obscene behaviour" under a law against prostitution and contempt of religion.

International rights organisations, including Amnesty and Al-Fatiha (gay Muslims' group), have no doubt, however, that the verdict was a witch hunt against homosexuality, which was becoming more overt in Cairo streets before the wave of arrests this year. 

Scott Long of the US-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), currently monitoring the trial in Cairo, today said, "The trial of these men has been a perversion of justice from day one." The IGLHRC called on President Mubarak to step in and immediately pardon the 23 men. 

Surina Khan, IGLHRC's Executive Director, said the group was "very chilled" by the hard sentences. "Having received numerous testimonies of beatings and abuse of the Cairo 52 while in detention, we can only imagine what awaits them now." 

- We are concerned for the acquitted as well," stated Mr. Long from Cairo. "We call for their immediate release, and ask President Mubarak to issue a clear directive to the prosecution not to appeal their acquittals." If set free, a return to normal life might also prove difficult. The names and workplace details of all the accused were published in the Egyptian press earlier this year. 

Egyptian legal sources contend that according to Egyptian law, the prosecutors can appeal the acquittals after 30 days from sentencing have elapsed. These sentences of the 23 found guilty however cannot be appealed. 

Reactions to the trial have been strong worldwide. In August, Al Fatiha organised demonstrations in front of Egyptian embassies and consulates all over the world. Exiled Egyptian gays, speaking through their website Gayegypt.com, are calling for a worldwide boycott of tourism to Egypt. "The cost to Egypt's tourist industry of these guilty verdicts will be devastating," the campaigners claim. 

The verdict today caused indignation among a crowd of an estimated 200 person outside the Cairo courtroom, which was driven back by "police wielding sticks," according to a CNN report. Only a handful of the accused's family members had been allowed into the courtroom.

There have been demonstrations against the verdict today as well. Arcigay, the Italian National Gay Association, today protested in front of Egypt embassy in Rome. Al-Fatiha protested in front of the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau in Washington DC yesterday. More protests are expected as the news reaches more world corners.

The IGLHRC is concerned this trial only is the beginning of further gay purges in Egypt. "There is evidence that additional arrests take place on a regular basis against presumed homosexuals," said Mr. Long today. This is confirmed by the British Magazine Gay Times, documenting continuing police actions against gay men in Cairo. The Egyptian police also reportedly have escalated its campaign of entrapment through the Internet. 

Source: Based on IGLHRC, Al-Fatiha and afrol archives

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