Egypt Teen Sentenced for ‘Immoral Sex’
Reuters, September 18, 2001
SUMMARY: An Egyptian court found a 15-year-old boy guilty of
"practicing sexual immorality," a local euphemism for homosexuality,
and sentenced him to three years in juvenile detention.
CAIRO — An Egyptian court found a 15-year-old boy
guilty of "practicing sexual immorality," a local euphemism for
homosexuality, and sentenced him to three years in juvenile detention on
Tuesday, security sources said.
The youth, one of 53 men arrested in May during a raid on a floating
nightclub called the "Queen Boat," was tried separately in a
different court because he is a minor. Three years was the maximum sentence he
could receive, but he can appeal the verdict.
The 52 other suspected homosexuals are being tried in an emergency state
security court, which denies any chance of appeal. They are accused of sexual
immorality and forming a group which propagated extremist ideas and denigrated
Islam.
Relatives of the boy wept as the court passed the verdict and said the
ruling was unjust. It was not immediately clear whether the family planned to
appeal.
The cases have drawn sharp criticism from international rights groups,
which say the men are being tried for their possible sexual orientation and
for exercising freedom of speech and association. All defendants plead not
guilty.
Homosexuality is regarded as a taboo in Egypt but is not expressly
prohibited by law.
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