Gay Today: World

35 U.S. Congressmen Blast Egypt
over Arrests of 52

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

Thirty-five U.S. Congressmembers wrote to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak August 6 denouncing the arrest of 52 men at a gay discotheque on May 11.

The men will be tried in the Emergency State Security Court for "practicing debauchery with men," "obscene behavior" and "contempt for religion." They have been jailed at Tora Prison since their arrests.

Rep. Fortney Pete Stark is one of 35 in the Congress writing to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak about the arrest of 52 men at a gay bar in Cairo

"We believe the decision of the Egyptian government to prosecute these men who have been accused of engaging in consensual sexual activity with adult persons of the same sex, and in a state security court under Egypt's emergency laws, is indefensible," the congressmembers wrote.

"As you know, Egypt is the second largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance. We note that this assistance comes from the people of the United States, including a great number of taxpayers who are gay and lesbian, and it is approved by members of Congress, many of whom are fully supportive of the right of gay and lesbian people to be free from discrimination and violence. Given this, it is very troubling for us to hear that these Egyptian men are not only facing trial and possible jail sentences, but also may have been mistreated, beaten or tortured while in detention."

Amnesty International has said it considers the men prisoners of conscience.

Related Sites:
Amnesty International

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The letter was signed by Congressmembers Tom Lantos, Barney Frank, Nita Lowey, Cynthia McKinney, Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi, John Lewis, Albert Russell Wynn, Steny Hoyer, James McGovern, Tammy Baldwin, Christopher Shays, Joseph Crowley, William Delahunt, Eliot Engel, Robert Wexler, Jim McDermott, Constance Morella, Frank Pallone Jr., Charles Gonzalez, Neil Abercrombie, Lynn Woolsey, John Larson, Jerrold Nadler, Lynn Rivers, Bernard Sanders, Brian Baird, Bob Filner, Janice Schakowsky, John Tierney, Anthony Weiner, Dennis Kucinich, George Miller, Fortney Pete Stark and Lane Evans.