Pink News reports on the second anniversary of the Tahrir Square revolution, after the overthrow of the government and holding free elections, for LGBT Egyptians "life has gotten worse." The article says "The visibility of the gay men and women who took to the streets during the revolution in 2011 has caused a backlash against them, instead of clinching them the greater freedom they had hoped for." LGBT campaigners fear the new Muslim Brotherhood government will enact more draconian antigay laws more specific than the broad statutes with which queers are currently charged for 'practicing debauchery.'
The only upside, according to activist Kholoud Bilak, is that groups like Egyptian Iniative for Personal Rights now monitor antigay oppression and advocate for LGBT rights, though as with Amnesty, it's not their priority. She said, "They are finally starting to acknowledge LGBTs: 'oh, they were in the revolution since day one very, very effectively.’ I thought that is very positive."
Photo: Flashback to the Cairo 52 in November 2001 when men arrested at a floating gay boat party were found guilty of "obscene behavior" and "contempt of religion." Many had been tortured during five months in prison awating trial. Egyptian media vilified the accused printing their full names and addresses. Trials and retrials lasted until March 2003 when twenty-one men were sentenced to three years in prison.
In October 2012, seven gay men were arrested in a police raid of private apartment and charged with debauchery. They were imprisoned, tried, and sentenced to fifteen days in jail.
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