Egypt is likely to conduct torturous and disproven anal examinations on six men accused of waving rainbow flags at a pop concert, charities have warned.
The men are charged with “debauchery” and “promoting sexual deviancy”, amid a crackdown on homosexuality, supported by the country’s religious and media establishment.
They were arrested by security forces following a concert in Cairo by Lebanese band Mashrou’ Laila, where several of the gay pride flags were waved by audience members.
It's the first time that I see the rainbow flag flying in Egypt. That was so heartwarming. 🌈✨ pic.twitter.com/FdU71A0lIP — Hitch (@amrhitch) September 22, 2017
The band’s lead singer, Hamed Sinno, is openly gay and some of the band’s lyrics talk about sexuality.
Mashrou’ Laila said the Cairo show was one of their best ever but they have now reportedly been banned from playing in the country. They have previously been banned from playing in Amman, Jordan for similar reasons.
After the show, LGBT-rights group, Rainbow Egypt, thanked the band for "making us all feel so happy with this little victory".
Same-sex relationships are strongly disapproved of across the Middle East and North Africa, with gay men routinely arrested, sometimes through entrapment on dating apps. They are often subjected to forced anal examinations.
The procedures have been dismissed by doctors as medically worthless and are classed as torture by numerous international conventions.
Anal examinations “have no medical justification and cannot be consented to fully,” according to the UN Committee against Torture.
There are fears the detained men, whose trial begins on Sunday, could also be mistreated in other ways. Egypt has a track record of abusing prisoners.
“The fact that Egypt’s Public Prosecutor is prioritizing hunting down people based on their perceived sexual orientation is utterly deplorable,” said Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns Director at Amnesty International.
“These men should be released immediately and unconditionally – not put on trial.”
Ms Bounaim added: “Forced anal examinations are abhorrent and amount to torture. The Egyptian authorities have an appalling track record of using invasive physical tests which amount to torture against detainees in their custody.
“All plans to carry out such tests on these men must be stopped immediately.”
Human Rights Watch also branded the charges “trumped up” and called for the men to be freed.
7 show all LGBT rights across the globe
1/7 Russia Russia’s antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT “propaganda” allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. (Picture: Riot police hold an LGBT activist during a Moscow rall.) AFP/Getty
2/7 Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has not reportedly executed anyone for this ‘crime’ since 1987. (Picture: Chinguetti Mosque, Mauritania.) ALAMY
3/7 Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and transgender is illegal and punishable by the death penalty, imprisonment, corporal punishment, whipping and chemical castration. (Picture: The emblem of Saudi Arabia above the embassy in London.) Bruno Vincent/Getty Images
4/7 Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty. (Picture: Yemen's southern port of Aden.) Getty
5/7 Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97 per cent of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is publishable by 14 years in prison. (Picture: The northern Nigerian town of Damasak.) Reuters
6/7 Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. (Picture: Families use a boat to cross a flooded Shebelle River, in Jowhar.) Reuters
7/7 Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning. (Picture: Purported Isis fighters in Iraq.) Getty Images
“Whether they were waving a rainbow flag, chatting on a dating app, or minding their own business in the streets, all these debauchery arrest victims should be immediately released,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at the NGO.
She added: “Egypt should stop dedicating state resources to hunting people down for what they allegedly do in their bedrooms, or for expressing themselves at a rock concert, and should instead focus energy on improving its dire human rights record.”
Homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt but strongly disapproved of in the conservative majority-Muslim society. Police often use "debauchery" charges to harass men they believe are gay.
Elliott2 on October 3rd, 2017 at 13:34 UTC »
I bet they will find shit.
Me_FROSBETCSHTE on October 3rd, 2017 at 11:55 UTC »
They have to see if the ass hymen is still there
UrbanPikerLDN on October 3rd, 2017 at 09:40 UTC »
That's even gayer. Egypt you gay.