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 Legal Misconduct at Cairo-52 Trial Rampant Allegations of Beatings and Procedural Irregularities Family Members of Males Accused of Being Gay are Beaten |
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Compiled by GayToday
San Francisco - The trial of the 52 men detained in Egypt because of their alleged homosexuality continued October 3rd with new allegations of beatings and procedural irregularities. Court observers believe it is likely that the hearings will end and sentences will be pronounced before the end of the month. International human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern about this case and have requested that the men be released.
At last week's hearing, one of the defendants testified that he was arrested at home and contended that his mother was beaten and humiliated during the arrest. According to his testimony, he was beaten up by police officers while they dragged him to the street, blindfolded to the police station, where he received more beatings together with other defendants.
After their arrests, they were placed in the ranks of suspected "homosexuals" by police eager to stimulate a scandal. A media campaign ensued in the days following the arrests, with the tightly state-controlled media broadcasting names and addresses of some of the detainees, and peppering reports with allegations of debauchery and Satanism. Egyptian legislation prohibits the publication of details concerning an ongoing investigation or trial that would influence the course of the proceedings, yet the government has refused to apply its own laws. "If the government of Egypt wanted to create a scandal out of this case, they have managed to do so," stated Ms. Khan. "People of good conscience around the world are watching." Fifty defendants are all charged with "obscene behavior" under a law against prostitution (Article 9c of Law No. 10 of 1961 on the Combat of Prostitution). Two more men are charged, in addition, with "contempt for religion" under Article 98f of the Penal Code. All 52 have pleaded innocent and are presenting individual defenses. As of yesterday 22 defenses have been heard. The next hearing was set for October 10. Decision and sentence can be pronounced by the Court either immediately after all the defenses have rested, or at a special session soon thereafter. The Special Emergency Court delivers rulings which cannot be appealed. A teenager, tried in a juvenile court because of his age, was sentenced September 18 to the maximum penalty allowed by law: three years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation. Because of his age, he is allowed to appeal, and a hearing before the juvenile court has been set for October 31st. ILGHRC's Action Alert: http://www.iglhrc.org/world/africa/Egypt2001Sep.html Background information: http://www.iglhrc.org/world/africa/index.html#Egypt |
