Egyptian Official Criticizes EU
The
Advocate, April 22, 2003
Fathi Srour, president of the Egyptian parliament, on
Saturday criticized a resolution passed by the European Parliament regarding
Egypt’s treatment of gay men, Agence France-Presse reports. On April 10 the
European Parliament called on Egypt to end its persecution of gay men
following the sentencing last month of 21 of them to terms of forced labor on
“debauchery” charges.
In a protest letter Srour said the resolution is “an
interference in the internal affairs” of Egypt. He added that the text
contains “arbitrary prejudices” and that Egyptian law “does not
intervene, in any form, in the private life of the people.”
Egyptian law does not specifically outlaw homosexuality,
but it does allow the government to punish its citizens for breaking
Islamic-inspired morality codes.
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