Egypt Imprisons Gay Men For "Debauchery"

Four Men Are HIV-Positive; Human Rights Groups Blame Ignorance, Fear Of AIDS

(AP)  An Egyptian court convicted five men Wednesday on charges of homosexual behavior and sentenced them to three years in prison, officials said.

Defense lawyer, Adel Ramadan, said the judge found the men guilty of the “habitual practice of debauchery” - a term used in the Egyptian legal system to denote consensual homosexual acts.

The convictions were confirmed by a judicial official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to journalists.

Homosexuality is not explicitly referred to in Egypt's legal code, but a wide range of laws covering obscenity, prostitution and debauchery are applied to homosexuals in this conservative country.

The five men were arrested in what human rights groups describe as a crackdown on people with the AIDS virus, using the debauchery charges as a means to prosecute them.

Four of the five men tested HIV-positive after all were forced to undergo blood tests in custody, Human Rights Watch says. The New York-based rights group issued a statement Tuesday signed by more than 100 other organizations around the world condemning the prosecutions.

Ramadan, a lawyer with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said the five men were abused and tortured over the past several months to “extract confessions” from them.

Along with three years in prison, the men were sentenced to an additional three years of police supervision.

Ramadan said the defendants were shocked by their convictions.

“Two of them cried, screamed and shrieked,” Ramadan said. He said the others “remained silent, but I saw anger in their eyes for the injustice they have been exposed to.”

Ramadan said he appealed the verdict to Egypt's Court of Cassation, the country's highest appellate court.

Dozens of human rights groups have criticized this trial and other similar ones as being driven by ignorance and fear of AIDS. They have warned that the convictions could undermine AIDS prevention in Egypt.

The five convicted Wednesday were among 12 people arrested in a sweep that began in October, when police arrested a man during an altercation with another man on a Cairo street, Human Rights Watch said.

After one of the men said he was HIV-positive, authorities opened investigations into other men whose names or contact information were uncovered in interrogations of the first group of men, Human Rights Watch said.

Egyptian police have denied making any arrests because of a person's HIV condition.

In mid-January, four other HIV-positive men from the group of 12 were sentenced to one-year prison terms on similar charges of debauchery. Three others from the 12 were not prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said.

[connapa]

If the 4 had *** with people who did not have HIV, and did not inform those people that they were HIV positive prior to the sexual acts, that is bahavior which at the very least borders on criminal (attempted murder, e.g.)Sexual partners (whether they are straight or gay) of those who are HIV positive have the right to know the HIV status of their partner. Even if the 4 used protection, their partners have a right to know.

[rf35]

What do you expect...this is the Middle-East. Religious law is supreme over there, just as the Republicans would like to see here.

[gwno1]

We need justice like this in our country. Too bad we have become pink america with no spine standing up to all the fringe groups instead of the majority. It is time for the minority groups to be treated as such not be afforded special attention

[mjvw2]

and we care because?

[herons-landi]

why do we have this presented as news?

[jon2012-2009]

why do we have this presented as news?
Posted by herons-landi at 01:35 PM : Apr 09, 2008

The question is more like, why is this not news?Because they were not stoned or burned at the stake instead?

[prairiefox1]

HMMM! AND WHY DIDN''T WE THINK OF THAT?

[prairiefox1]

BE CAREFUL! A LARGE BUNCH OF "FUNNY FELLOWS" MAY LOG ON AND GIVE YOU ALL A DIFFICULT TIME!

[irliberal]

Wow, the bigots are out in force today. Not really surprising but always sad individuals.

[gwno1]

Typical ididot liberal. Why dont u go champion the homosexual cause in Egypt and leave this country. We are headed toward anarchy here if we keep allowing crimes against nature to go unpunished

[tommancuso]

Typical ididot liberal. Why dont u go champion the homosexual cause in Egypt and leave this country. We are headed toward anarchy here if we keep allowing crimes against nature to go unpunished
================================================

This country was founded by liberals on liberal beliefs. Who the hell is going to run us out? Rather, I would like to see Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Assemble and Freedom of Religion taken away from these ignorant, ungrateful "conservatives". As for crimes against nature, if it occurs naturally, how can one call it a crime?

[questionnews]

As for crimes against nature, if it occurs naturally, how can one call it a crime?

Posted by tommancuso at 03:53 PM : Apr 09, 2008

That''s what NAMLA keeps saying. You sounds like a great canidate for membership.

[displeased]

We are headed toward anarchy here if we keep allowing crimes against nature to go unpunished
Posted by GWno1

Religion is not nature. There should be punishment! Oh wait, Texas is already in progress...

[Keypinitreel1]

Main Entry:
de7bauch7ery Listen to the pronunciation of debauchery
Pronunciation:
di-%u02C8bo%u0307-ch%u0259-r%u0113, -chr%u0113, -%u02C8bd-
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural de7bauch7er7ies
Date:
1642

1 a: extreme indulgence in sensuality bplural : orgies 2archaic : seduction from virtue or duty

====================================================

If Americans could be locked up for Debauchery most of our country would be in jail.

[gwno1]

I love to see Ron jeremey do what you think happens naturally tommancuso

[irliberal]

Posted by GWno1 at 04:12 PM

Seems that GWn01 is pretty insecure to me. You know what that means!

:)

[gwno1]

Your the one that says homosexual *** is natural there. I figure your a catcher who lovs brokeback mtn. Go vote for your liberal antireligous candidate and when its judgement day I will watch god do to you what u say comes naturally mrs liberal

[susieq_13]

Every homosexual out to be prisoned. It''s just plain wrong.

[irliberal]

Posted by susieq_13 at 05:03 PM : Apr 09, 2008
Posted by GWno1 at 04:30 PM

Thanks gang. It''s people like you (and the Westboro Baptist Church type folk... I dunno maybe you''re members!) that serve to remind everyone the hate and oppression gay people must endure on a daily basis. Even as you hide and cower behind your keyboards your kind are going the way of the dinosaur. In fifty years people will look back and say... "my gosh - how could they have been so nasty and spiteful, Dad? I dunno son, go ask your other Dad."

Of course there will always be at least a few like you, just like there are a few mass murderers and a few jihadists. You''re on your way out. It''s only a matter of time. C''est la vie!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by Questionnews at 04:01 PM

you sound like a perfect candidate for Al Qaeda. Learn to fly any planes lately? That way you can kill all the athiests you don''t like.

[memerider]

Homosexuality occurs naturally in all populations and there is a growing body of evidence that it''s based on a genetic predisposition for most people.


The more interesting question is why is ancient folklore such a strong driver of many humans'' behavior? Why does indoctrination exist (survival value?) and why do people cling to it to the point of viciously attacking, killing or imprisoning others who exhibit natural behaviors they don''t understand?


From the studies I''ve read, it appears most knew when they were little kids that they had these tendencies, so it''s almost certainly hardwired into the physiology for most of them.

[irliberal]

Posted by memerider at 05:42 PM

Three causes, not necessarily in order of importance:

1. Hate
2. Religion
3. Ignorance

[shanev137]

GWno1...I think it''s time you came out of the closet about being gay already.

[beehive21-2009]

Sending these kind of guys to prison is like Disneyland, they are happy now surrounded by lots of lovers, how is this punishment ? to these kind of guys ?

[irliberal]

Posted by beehive21 at 10:09 PM

Your hatred has won. I only hope you find your way out of it some day, some how. Meanwhile the rest of us who aren''t damaged will continue merrily on, perhaps one day you''ll catch up.

[concorde5]

No one chooses to be Gay just like no one chooses to be Straight. To think otherwise is just rediculous.

We may not approve of homosexuality but it''s there. We can''t change gay people and make them straight. We should treat them like anyone else. Judge them as individuals and not based on their sexuality.

[Marie Zarankevich]

Great - So they first make it impossible for men to have fulfilling relationships with their women, then they make it illegal to have any with men, either. -- Who''s left? -- Chimpanzees? -- Camels?

[pronto9]

Let them bugger each other in peace.

[payasyougo]

"From the studies I''ve read, it appears most knew when they were little kids that they had these tendencies, so it''s almost certainly hardwired into the physiology for most of them."
--------------------------------------------

The same could be said of zoophiles - the affinity or sexual attraction by a human to an animal.

I hold the same disgust and disdain toward both sets of behaviors.

Studies have also shown that molested boys have an extremely high probability to become molesters themselves. This is not a genetic predisposition rather, this is propagation of a bad behavior. And this could explain the growing number of homosexuals in the community.

Just because a lot of people are doing it does not make it right. And I don''t have to accept the behavior. I won%u2019t. Ever. Legally, I can%u2019t do anything about it.

Just keep them out of positions where they might teach the behaviors to my children.

[rf35]

Go vote for your liberal antireligous candidate and when its judgement day I will watch god do to you what u say comes naturally mrs liberal
Posted by GWno1

If your god is into butt-s-e-x, I''m glad I''m not a Christian.

[dog7771]

were they watching movies at the Al-MArriott? For Shame!

[lance453]

To payasyougo:
It%u2019s so funny how people try to compare irrelevant things and pretend that they are the same thing. I highly doubt that Zoophiles come out of the womb lusting for animals. I think their sexual lust for animals goes along the lines of a sexual fetish, but I am no expert there. As for pedophiles, most are heterosexual even the ones who molest boys. Most studies have shown that molesters tend to be a family member, relative, or family friend. Usually the boys are molested by a male who is in a heterosexual relationship. You are also ignoring the far greater number of girls who get molested or raped. What about them? Since the majority of pedophiles are %u201Cstraight%u201D males, I guess that is ok to you because it will make sure that girl%u2019s grows up straight. Maybe we should do that with all children, make females molest little boys so they grow up straight too. You got to get them before the *** do!
Yeah, just because a lot of people are doing it, AKA religion & bigotry, doesn%u2019t make it right. You can reserve your own right to believe what you want to and hate who you want to but don%u2019t be fooled into thinking that you yourself won%u2019t one day feel the same discrimination you spew out. If you are afraid for the safety of your children, then don%u2019t trust them with your family, friends, or religious figures. The *** are the last ones to be concerned about.

[honestabe8]

GWno1 wants to see Ron Jeremy have ***? Hmmm...curious.

[honestabe8]

GWno1: Shove your judgement day and your reheated hebrew mythology up your arse. Frigging moron.

[honestabe8]

GWno1 must really be into that punishment thing. Does your god have leather and whips?

[honestabe8]

GWno1 must really be into that punishment thing. Does your god have leather and whips?

[azcagirl]

Do the authorities there have nothing better to do then torture people for being gay? Seriously everybody knows about the Aids pandemic if those people decide to have any unprotected s*x with anyone they are unsure about that is the personal risk that they take. It should be up to the individual not the authorities to run their s*x lives.