Demonstrators at Geneva last week - photo by Dialogay PROSECUTION DECLARES 893 PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROOF OF "PERVERTED" SEX AND RELIGIOUS HERESY BUT THE ALLEGED "HIGH WITCH" FARAHAT KNEW ONLY FIVE OF THE DEFENDANTS As the world's biggest ever sex show trial opens, the Egyptian state seems determined to prove that the Queen Boat discotheque and an eccentric unknown engineer's notebook writings and scrapbook photographs lie at the centre of a "pervert's" conspiracy to destroy Egypt. Yet, while the intention of hawling these fifty two men before an Emergency State Security Court might have been thought an indication of a determination to see a speedy conclusion, a deeply embarassed Government and State Security Force has obviously influenced the decision by the Court to delay yet again the case until next Wednesday 5 September. This corrupt and incompetent inquisition could well make even the McCarthyite Campaign against "sexual deviants" in fifties America seem laughably benign and unprejudiced by comparison. Our most valued correspondent "Horus" reports - CAIRO, Aug 29 The Egyptian Court continued the trial of the 52 suspected homosexual men in its third monthly session since it began in July. The prosecutor Ashraf Helal, protested the lawyers’ request of removing the case from the High Security Emergency Court to a normal court, saying that "The practice of debauchery is an example of contempt for religions," as the 52 are related to each other in one case (one organization) and practicing gay sex was part of the group's rituals. The lawyers answered back that none of the two charges are related to each other as well as the 52 people didn’t know each other before the arrest. The prosecutor presented 893 photographs saying that they depict the men in “indecent positions”. The photographs were among the possessions of Sherief Farahat the so-called the head of the organization. According to the lawyers only about five of the accused are in the photos, and all of theses five men were not on the “Queen Boat” during the arrest. Sherief Farahat has confirmed before, in the investigations, that he shot nudity-photos of men in 1996 as an Art and none of these photos are pornographic. Some of the photographs were of Mosques, Churches, Synagogues and old architectures and buildings (some of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo) as part of his hobby of photographing which the prosecutors claimed that they are evidences of the unification of the three religions into one aiming to "denigrate monotheistic religions" “with the aim of insulting the heavenly religions and sparking civil strife". The photo of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo was taken as a proof of his loyalty to Israel (see more about it in “SOUT ELOMMA” –No 38- August 22,2001). Farahat has also stated that he only knows 5 people among the suspected men and that he named them to the police officers during the investigations and that they were arrested before the “Queen Boat” arrest. He also stated that he has never been to the Queen Boat Before. A lawyer of two of the suspects asked to hear the affidavit of an Egyptian girl as a witness. She was on the Queen Boat with his two clients and during the arrest she was taken away where she was accused of prostitution. The police claimed that she was arrested because she was with three unknown Saudi-Arabian clients of hers.(?????)The story of this girl and her two friends and neighbors was published twice. The first time was in “Akhbar Al-Hawadeth” (May 24, 2001_pp 9-10), and the second time was in “SOUT ELOMMA” (–No 38- August 22,2001_p4) Many of the suspects were denying their homosexuality, as it is a scandal to public morality. It seemed that denying being Gay in front of their families and Society is more important to them then the charges they are facing in the court, which can lead to about three to five years imprisonment. The judge said at the end of the session that the trial would resume next Wednesday on September 5, 2001. Horus STATE SECURITY INTERNET ENTRAPMENT ESCALATES POLICE USE GAYEGYPT.COM AND CHAT SITES TO ARREST GAYS GayEgypt.com responds by offering a TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR reward for information leading to the eventual arrest of a State Security Officer We have received information from several reliable sources that many people have recently been arrested after having responded to invitations to various rendez-vous arrangements made via e-mail through chat sites or personal ads. Today however we received the first indication that the police may even be using our own site GayEgypt.com to entrap gays. So we are requesting everyone to be alert to this very serious risk and to be extra careful when meeting others. At GayEgypt.com we are dismayed to learn that the police may be using us to entrap gays and we are determined to strike back at these cowards who arrest, frequently blackmail, rob and torture people in our community. These police officers assume that they will always be protected by a corrupt and incompetent Government whose days are numbered. One day, much earlier than they think, the government will fall and there will be atleast a measure of justice. We are confident that if enough evidence is compiled we can bring action against those members of the State Security Police who have engaged in the most serious forms of mistreatment and torture. We are now increasing our offer to TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS to the person whose information given to us and published on our site does the most in our opinion to lead to the first arrest and conviction of a member of the State Security Police for a crime relating to the mistreatment or torture of a gay man and/or illegal actions taken against the gay community. EGYPTIAN GAYS RUSH TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY Wednesday 22 August According to Britain's Guardian and an e-mail received from gay rights campaigner Mark Watson, Amnesty International is joining with Gay.com to petition Britain's Foreign Office and also the Foreign Office Minister with special responsibility for the Middle East, Ben Bradshaw, to warn gay tourists over the danger of visiting Egypt. Meanwhile our site has received a flood of e-mails from Egyptian gays requesting information on asylum and on countries to which they might leave to immediately and most easily. GayEgypt.com understands that some countries may be willing to consider asylum appeals through their embassies in countries outside Egypt even if the person seeking asylum is Egyptian. Gay Egyptians in danger of arrest are strongly advised to leave the country immediately if they can obtain an assurance from an Embassy that their asylum appeal will be given serious consideration in a third country. GayEgypt.com CAN NOT at the moment be certain which countries will be most sympathetic to such appeals and CAN NOT say for certain which Embassies will be willing to be flexible regarding applying outside Egypt. However those Egyptians interested in leaving the country might consider consulting the Netherlands, Danish, Swiss, UK, US, Australian or other western Embassies. If you are an Egyptian already living outside the country and are afraid to return and if you are considering seriously applying for asylum in United States and have already compiled evidence regarding why you in particular are at risk then you might contact the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. GayEgypt.com recently received the following contact information from a law company working with them. "We are gay attorneys who work closely with the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. In addition to being a founder of the LGIRTF, I have also co-written two editions of a book called "Preparing Sexual Orientation Based Asylum Claims" which is available through the LGIRTF at info@lgirtf.org or via its publisher, Heartland Alliance in Chicago. Our firm has specialized in sexual orientation based asylum claims since they became possible in 1994." GayEgypt.com (not the above organization) advises gay Egyptains that the following countries are relatively easy to go to with or without a visa and have a RELATIVELY "less oppressive" or even, in the case of Thailand, a fairly positive record on gay rights. 1. Mexico. Visa should be relatively easy but you should still prepare well your reasons for going. Don't say it's for asylum. Don't apply to Mexican Embassy for asylum. The cost of living in Mexico though is not too high and there is quite a large gay community in Mexico City. It is not far from the US if the US Embassy gives you permission to apply outside Egypt for asylum. Ensure that when your Mexican visa finishes you can enter a neighbouring country such as Belize or Guatemala or Hondurus or Cuba and reapply for a Mexican visa without having to return to Egypt ! 2. Brazil. Same applies as with Mexico though it's further from the US. There is a large gay community in Rio and other cities. Make sure that when your visa finishes you can enter a neighbouring country such as Bolivia, or Venezuela and reapply for a Brazilian visa without having to return to Egypt ! 3. Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. NO visa required for Egyptians. If you go here you will still need a foreign visa in order to exit the country. This is easier than obtaining police permission. You are recommended to prepare your reasons well and to go to an Embassy to which it is relatively easy to apply for a visa for such as Nigeria, Kenya or Sri Lanka. You will have to say on exiting at Cairo airport that you intend to visit this country at some stage. If you have a visa to Sri Lanka consider flying to Sri Lanka first and then to Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. Malaysia and Indonesia are both muslim countries where there are very small and limited gay communities. You are advised to be discreet but the chance of arrest is much much smaller than in Egypt. When your visa expires for any of these three countries you can travel to the next and then return again providing you have sufficient funds. 4.Hong Kong only allows Egyptians to enter with visa free access for up to 14 days only. 5. Turkey. With considerable reservations regarding its gay rights records but it is not too far from Egypt and visa might be attainable but far from certain. Small gay community in Instanbul. Close to Europe if you are applying to a European Embassy. When your Turkish visa finishes you should be able to enter Syria which does not require a visa from Egyptians but enquire with the Turkish Embassy in Cairo first whether you can obtain a new Turkish visa at the Turkish Embassy in Damascus or you may have to return to Egypt. You might be able to renew your Turkish visa in Turkey. Ask before you go. In the event of receiving no visa in Syria you could if absolutely necessary go on to Jordan which also doesn't require a visa from Egyptians. By moving every few weeks from Syria to Jordan and back you could if your funds allowed probably remain outside Egypt for a long time but of course gay life in these two countries may prove to be almost as dangerous. Latest news 22 May 2012: Cairo psychiatrist claims he can "cure" 70 to 75 per cent of gay teenagers.