The Cairo 52: More Allegations of Torture
365Gay.com,
October 6, 2001
By Jon ben Asher
Summary: The trial of the 52 suspected gay men has heard new allegations of
beatings, and observers said there have been additional procedural
irregularities.
The trial of the 52 suspected gay men has heard new allegations of
beatings, and observers said there have been additional procedural
irregularities.
The trial has been adjourned for the week and will resume Oct. 10.
Observers from the Canadian embassy and other consular delegations say they
believe it is likely that the hearings will end and sentences will be
pronounced before the end of the month.
International human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern
about this case and have requested that the men be released.
This week, one of the defendants testified that he was arrested at home and
contended that his mother was beaten and humiliated during the arrest.
According to his testimony, he was beaten up by police officers while they
dragged him through the street, blindfolded, to the police station, where he
received more beatings together with other defendants.
"We have been concerned since this case began about credible
allegations of torture," said Surina Khan, executive director of the
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in San Francisco.
"These stories are multiplying. We fear for the physical safety of the
defendants in detention."
Egyptian gay activists have uncovered additional irregularities surrounding
the arrests in this case. Contrary to reports by Cairo police, not all of the
defendants were present at the Queen Boat the night of May 10 or were arrested
there.
Out of the 52 defendants, 19 were arrested elsewhere. Some of the other
detainees were picked up by police for minor violations: one reportedly was a
street vendor arrested for selling watches without a license at a teahouse,
another was cleaning his motorcycle on the street without his ID, and still
another was initially arrested for having a fight with an off-duty police
officer.
After their arrests, they were placed in the ranks of suspected
"homosexuals" by police eager to stimulate a scandal, the
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission said Thursday.
A Cairo media campaign ensued in the days following the arrests, with the
tightly state-controlled media broadcasting names and addresses of some of the
detainees, and peppering reports with allegations of debauchery and Satanism.
"If the government of Egypt wanted to create a scandal out of this
case, they have managed to do so," Khan said. "People of good
conscience around the world are watching."
Fifty defendants are all charged with "obscene behavior" under a
law against prostitution. Two more men are charged, in addition, with
"contempt for religion." All 52 have pleaded innocent and are
presenting individual defenses.
A verdict and sentencing can be pronounced by the court either immediately
after all the defenses have rested, or at a special session soon thereafter.
The Special Emergency Court delivers rulings which cannot be appealed.
A teenager, tried in a juvenile court because of his age, was sentenced
Sept. 18 to the maximum penalty allowed by law: three years in prison, to be
followed by three years of probation. Because of his age, he is allowed to
appeal, and a hearing before the juvenile court has been set for Oct. 31.
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