Cairo: 23 homosexuals sentenced for sexual deviation

A group of 52 men embarked on a Nile cruise in May, but there was more than Abu Simbel on the agenda. The result has been prison sentences for 23 of the accused in a case strongly contested by Amnesty International.

Amnesty international has complained that the men are being tried for their sexuality and as such should be freed. “Amnesty International believes that all these prisoners are accused simply because of their sexual orientation. If this is confirmed, the organisation should request the immediate and unconditional freeing of all the accused” stated the organisation in a press release.

The 52 men were arrested on 11th May on a Nile restaurant-cruiser, docked in front of the Island of Zamalek. It is claimed by the prosecution that this was sexual tourism, and that the men were involved in a homosexual orgy.

The organiser of the group, Sherif Farahat, has been sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment for indulgence, disobedience to religious principles, false interpretation of the Qu’ran and exploitation of Islam to disseminate depraved ideas.

The other prisoners were sentenced to two or three years’ imprisonment.

Timofei BYELO PRAVDA.Ru