Amnesty: Egypt arresting members of LGTBI community News
Amnesty: Egypt arresting members of LGTBI community

Egyptian authorities are waging an anti-lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and intersex (LGBTI) campaign, having arrested a total of 33 individuals, according to a statement [press release] by Amnesty International (AI) on Monday.

The crackdown began because of a rainbow flag being displayed at the Mashrou’ Leila concert in Cairo in late September, which resulted into an investigation by the Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadiq.

In September, a few days after the flag incident, six men were arrested [press release] for promoting sexual deviancy and debauchery. The Forensic Medical Authority was permitted to perform anal examinations to determine whether they have engaged in same-sex relations, which, according to AI, classifies as torture and other ill-treatment.

According to North Africa Campaigns Director at AI Najia Bounaim,

The Egyptian authorities’ announcement that they are investigating the rainbow flag incident as a criminal act is utterly absurd. No one should be punished for expressing solidarity with LGBTI individuals or based on their perceived sexual orientation. This is the worst crackdown against people based on their perceived sexual orientation since the mass arrests of 52 people following a raid on the Queen Boat, a floating nightclub on the Nile, in 2001.

AI is urging Egypt authorities to discontinue anal examinations and release those who have been arrested.

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