Egypt arrts dozens crackdown on gays | Rters

Contents:

• ARRTS AND TORTURE OF GAYS, LBIANS EGYPT ARE ‘SYSTEMATIC,’ RIGHTS REPORT SAYS
• EGYPT EXPANDS CRACKDOWN ON GAY AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE
• 'YOU N'T BE OUT': GAY EGYPTIANS NTUE TO FEAR PERSECUTN
• EGYPT ARRTS DOZENS CRACKDOWN ON GAYS
• ARRTED FOR WAVG RABOW FLAG, A GAY EGYPTIAN TAK HER LIFE
• EGYPTIAN AUTHORI ARRT 57 IN WORST ANTI-LGBT CRACKDOWN IN MORE THAN A DE“THE SLE OF THE LATT ARRTS HIGHLIGHTS HOW DANGEROLY ENTRENCHED HOMOPHOBIA IS WH THE UNTRY.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY DAN AVERYOCTOBER 6, 2017/6:09 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}STRGER/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGCAIRO, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 01: EIGHT PEOPLE SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS JAIL AFTER JOG AN ILLEGAL GAY WEDDG CEREMONY ARE SEEN BEHD THE BARS CAIRO, EGYPT, ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014. THE MEN WERE FOUND GUILTY OF SPREADG "CENT IMAG" AND "CG BCHERY" OVER A VIO THAT APPEARED TO SHOW THEM CELEBRATG A GAY MARRIAGE CAIRO. (PHOTO BY STRGER/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAG)BY DAN AVERYOCTOBER 6, 2017 / 6:09 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EGYPTIAN AUTHORI ARRT 57 IN WORST ANTI-LGBT CRACKDOWN IN MORE THAN A DE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-10-06T10:09:09.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-10-06T10:09:09.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT STARTED WH SOMETHG AS NOCENT AS WAVG A RABOW FLAG. NOW DOZENS OF LGBT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRTED EGYPT ONE OF THE UNTRY'S BIGGT CRACKDOWNS ON LGBT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON SEPTEMBER 22, NCERTGOERS WAVED PRI FLAGS AT A MASHROU’ LEILA NCERT AT CAIRO FTIVAL CY NEW CAIRO. (LEAD SGER HAMED SNO IS OPENLY GAY AND SOME OF THE BAND’S SONGS ADDRS QUEER THEM.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER IMAG OF THE FLAGS SURFACED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, POLICE ED SECURY-MERA FOOTAGE TO INTIFY AND ARRT PARTICIPANTS. DAYS LATER, THE SUPREME COUNCIL FOR MEDIA REGULATN (SCMR) PROHIBED ANY POSIVE PICTN OF THE LGBT MUNY THE MEDIA AND MASHROU’ LEILA WAS BANNED OM PERFORMG THE UNTRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, AMNTY INTERNATNAL REPORTS, POLICE HAVE STARTED A MANHUNT AGAST HOMOSEXUALS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS: SOME 57 PEOPLE—CLUDG AT LEAST ONE WOMAN—HAVE BEEN ARRTED CAIRO, GIZA, AND DAMIETTA ON CHARG RANGG OM “BCHERY" AND "CG SEXUAL VIANCY" TO "JOG AN OUTLAWED GROUP." NE HAVE RECEIVED PRISON SENTENC, AND AN ADDNAL 35 ARE FACG TRIAL. (SEVERAL TAE HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO FORCED ANAL EXAMATNS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE SLE OF THE LATT ARRTS HIGHLIGHTS HOW DANGEROLY ENTRENCHED HOMOPHOBIA IS WH THE UNTRY,” SAID AMNTY INTERNATNAL’S NAJIA BOUNAIM.  “THE EGYPTIAN THORI’ ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE VTIGATG THE RABOW FLAG CINT AS A CRIMAL ACT IS UTTERLY ABSURD. NO ONE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR EXPRSG SOLIDARY WH LGBT DIVIDUALS OR BASED ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN.”AFP/GETTY IMAGEGYPTIAN MEN ON TRIAL FOR DOG A VIO PROSECUTORS CLAIMED WAS OF A GAY WEDDG ENTER THE URTROOM CAIRO ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014. THE VIO, FILMED ABOARD A NILE RIVERBOAT, SHOWS WHAT PROSECUTORS SAID WAS A GAY WEDDG CEREMONY, WH TWO MEN THE CENTRE KISSG, EXCHANGG RGS AND CUTTG A KE WH THEIR PICTURE ON . THE EGYPTIAN URT JAILED THE EIGHT MEN FOR THREE YEARS. AFP PHOTO / STR (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ -/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT TECHNILLY ILLEGAL EGYPT, BUT LAWS LIKE THE ON AGAST BCHERY ARE OFTEN ED TO PERSECUTE LGBT EGYPTIANS. (PARLIAMENT IS NSIRG CRIMALIZG SAME-SEX RELATNS WH UP TO 15 YEARS PRISON.) THE CURRENT CLAMPDOWN IS THE MOST SEVERE SCE 2001, WHEN 52 MEN WERE ARRTED AT A FLOATG GAY NIGHTCLUB. (GAY STAR NEWS REPORTS MANY LGBT ACTIVISTS HAVE FLED CAIRO, WH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVG THE UNTRY ALTOGETHER.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE EGYPTIAN ERNMENT, BY ROUNDG PEOPLE UP BASED ON THEIR PRUMED SEXUAL ORIENTATN, IS SHOWG FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR THEIR RIGHTS.” SAID HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH’S SARAH LEAH WHSON. “EGYPT SHOULD STOP DITG STATE ROURC TO HUNTG PEOPLE DOWN FOR WHAT THEY ALLEGEDLY DO THEIR BEDROOMS, OR FOR EXPRSG THEMSELV AT A ROCK NCERT, AND SHOULD STEAD FOC ENERGY ON IMPROVG S DIRE HUMAN RIGHTS RERD.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MASHROU’ LEILA IS URGG FOR TERNATNAL PRSURE ON THE EGYPTIAN ERNMENT “TO IMMEDIATELY HALT S ONGOG WCH-HUNT AND RELEASE ALL TAE.”KARIM SAHIB/AFP/GETTY IMAGHAMED SNO (C), THE LEAD SGER OF LEBANE BAND MASHROU LEILA, PERFORMS ON STAGE AT THE DUBAI INTERNATNAL MARE CLUB DURG A MIC FTIVAL THE UNED ARAB EMIRAT, ON APRIL, 7, ARTISTS NOT TRADNALLY NSIRED MASTREAM ARE GAG GROWG REGNN BOTH AT HOME AND ACROSS THE GLOBE. BANDS LIKE LEBANON'S MASHROU' LEILA AND JORDAN'S AUTOSTRAD, HIP-HOP ARTISTS LIKE IRAQI-CANADIAN NARCY AND PALTIAN MUQATA3A, ALONG WH SOLO ACTS LIKE YASME HAMDAN, ARE AT THE HEAD OF THE MOVEMENT.AUTOSTRAD, NARCY AND MASHROU' LEILA HEADLED THE APRIL 7 CLOSG NIGHT OF DUBAI'S STEP 2017 NFERENCE, AN ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY, DIGAL AND ENTERTAMENT FTIVAL. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ KARIM SAHIB/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}‘WE NNOT BEG TO EXPLA HOW SADNED WE ARE TO SEE YET ANOTHER ERA OF BACKWARDS TYRANNY CREEP OVER ONE OF OUR MOST BELOVED UNTRI AND DIENC," THE BAND SAID A STATEMENT. "THIS CRACKDOWN IS BY NO MEANS SEPARABLE OM THE SUFFOTG ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR AND ABE EXPERIENCED BY ALL EGYPTIANS ON A DAILY BASIS, REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

ARRTS AND TORTURE OF GAYS, LBIANS EGYPT ARE ‘SYSTEMATIC,’ RIGHTS REPORT SAYS

CAIRO — The Egyptian ernment ntu to target gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr people a "systematic fashn" through arbrary arrts, torture and other forms of abe, cludg forced "virgy tts, " Human Rights Watch said watchdog group acced police personnel and officers of Egypt’s Natnal Secury Agency of routely pickg up spected LGBT people off the streets and tag them “human ndns, ” often after illegally searchg their phon.

Egyptian secury forc taed Hegazi 2017 after she raised a rabow pri flag at a ncert Cairo by the Lebane band Mashrou’ Leila, whose lead sger is openly gay. While homosexualy is not illegal Egypt, thori have been g a 1960s anti-prostutn law that ntas a clse agast “bchery, ” which Egyptian urts have terpreted to clu the weeks followg the 2017 Mashrou’ Leila ncert, thori arrted sr of LGBT people and hand out harsh prison sentenc, promptg the U.

Human rights office to clare the anti-gay raids vlatns of ternatnal law. Officers searched the men’s phon and ed photos they found to acce them of homosexualy. 3, 2017CAIRO — At least 34 people have been arrted Egypt as part of an expandg crackdown on the gay and transgenr muny followg a rock ncert last month when dience members waved a rabow crackdown has been fueled by social media, where imag of the flag-wavg were wily shared, and by datg apps and other webs, which the Egyptian police have ed to entrap people spected of beg gay and transgenr, activists and officials say.

EGYPT EXPANDS CRACKDOWN ON GAY AND TRANSGENR PEOPLE

Photographs and vio of Ahmed Alaa, a 22-year-old law stunt, and others wavg the flag at the ncert by Mashrou’ Leila, a Lebane band wh an openly gay sger, stoked public outrage and vuperative news verage that scribed the flag-wavg as an asslt on Egypt and s Mosa, an fluential talk show host, suggted last week that Mr.

Alaa and the others had been fund by unintified enemi who wanted to “disgrace” Egypt by makg appear to accept homosexualy. “They jt said that they arrted gays to lm down the public.

”The next day he was arrted and charged by natnal secury prosecutors — who ually vtigate terrorism — wh membership “an illegal group tryg to promote homosexual ias, ” acrdg to his lawyer, Ramadan Mohamed. His trial date has not been crackdown has primarily targeted gay men and transgenr women, groups that the Egyptian state and mass media do not nsir distct om each other.

'YOU N'T BE OUT': GAY EGYPTIANS NTUE TO FEAR PERSECUTN

Egyptian thori have long ed onle entrapment to arrt gay people, cludg durg a crackdown 2001. Officers lure someone to a date, arrt them and then e the msag sent durg their flirtatn as evince prosecutn official, who spoke on ndn of anonymy bee he was not thorized to speak to reporters, said the existence of such apps and webs — and their creased e Egypt recent years — had ma arrts and prosecutns much an terview on Tuday at the Giza urthoe, where five men spected of beg gay were on trial a separate, olr se, the official scribed the ter as teemg wh gay said the police had not cid to start roundg up gay people but simply had gone onle and kept enunterg them. If gay people stopped g the ter to meet each other, they would stop gettg arrted, he said.

”The persecutn of gay and transgenr people began earnt the fall of 2013 when a ary curfew imposed after the removal of former Print Mohamed Morsi end. Morsi’s brief tenure were a time of relative openns for gay and transgenr the time, the police were more preoccupied wh tryg to csh dissent and then protectg themselv when Mr. Ltle attentn was paid to gay Egyptians, who had last been the target of a wispread crackdown 2001.

That reprsn gaed ternatnal attentn wh the arrt of dozens of gay men on the Queen Boat Tuday, Mr. Alaa, had anythg to do wh the untry’s bieged gay muny. “He is not even gay and he don’t know any gay people, ” Mr.

EGYPT ARRTS DOZENS CRACKDOWN ON GAYS

A versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn A, Page 4 of the New York edn wh the headle: Egypt Mak at Least 34 Arrts Crackdown on Gay and Transgenr People.

Grdr, the world’s most popular gay datg app, sent a warng to all of s ers Egypt this week followg reports that dozens of LGBTQ people had been arrted the untry over the weekend. “We have been alerted that Egyptian police is actively makg arrts of gay, bi, and trans people on digal platforms, ” the warng msage, first sent on Monday, says.

Homosexualy is still crimalized 67 untri and jurisdictns, acrdg to Human Digny Tst, a global advocy group for LGBTQ rights. Ugandans who have gay sex would be sentenced to life prison if the legislatn be ValleJay Valle reports and produc digal ntent for NBC Out.

ARRTED FOR WAVG RABOW FLAG, A GAY EGYPTIAN TAK HER LIFE

Egypt's anti-gay crackdown ma headl last September, but one year later, human-rights advot and LGBTQ Egyptians say the persecutn 18, 2018, 4:00 PM UTCOmar* is a 30-year-old physician livg Alexandria, Egypt, the untry’s send largt cy.

EGYPTIAN AUTHORI ARRT 57 IN WORST ANTI-LGBT CRACKDOWN IN MORE THAN A DE“THE SLE OF THE LATT ARRTS HIGHLIGHTS HOW DANGEROLY ENTRENCHED HOMOPHOBIA IS WH THE UNTRY.”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY DAN AVERYOCTOBER 6, 2017/6:09 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}STRGER/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGCAIRO, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 01: EIGHT PEOPLE SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS JAIL AFTER JOG AN ILLEGAL GAY WEDDG CEREMONY ARE SEEN BEHD THE BARS CAIRO, EGYPT, ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014. THE MEN WERE FOUND GUILTY OF SPREADG "CENT IMAG" AND "CG BCHERY" OVER A VIO THAT APPEARED TO SHOW THEM CELEBRATG A GAY MARRIAGE CAIRO. (PHOTO BY STRGER/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAG)BY DAN AVERYOCTOBER 6, 2017 / 6:09 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EGYPTIAN AUTHORI ARRT 57 IN WORST ANTI-LGBT CRACKDOWN IN MORE THAN A DE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-10-06T10:09:09.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-10-06T10:09:09.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT STARTED WH SOMETHG AS NOCENT AS WAVG A RABOW FLAG. NOW DOZENS OF LGBT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRTED EGYPT ONE OF THE UNTRY'S BIGGT CRACKDOWNS ON LGBT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON SEPTEMBER 22, NCERTGOERS WAVED PRI FLAGS AT A MASHROU’ LEILA NCERT AT CAIRO FTIVAL CY NEW CAIRO. (LEAD SGER HAMED SNO IS OPENLY GAY AND SOME OF THE BAND’S SONGS ADDRS QUEER THEM.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER IMAG OF THE FLAGS SURFACED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, POLICE ED SECURY-MERA FOOTAGE TO INTIFY AND ARRT PARTICIPANTS. DAYS LATER, THE SUPREME COUNCIL FOR MEDIA REGULATN (SCMR) PROHIBED ANY POSIVE PICTN OF THE LGBT MUNY THE MEDIA AND MASHROU’ LEILA WAS BANNED OM PERFORMG THE UNTRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, AMNTY INTERNATNAL REPORTS, POLICE HAVE STARTED A MANHUNT AGAST HOMOSEXUALS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS: SOME 57 PEOPLE—CLUDG AT LEAST ONE WOMAN—HAVE BEEN ARRTED CAIRO, GIZA, AND DAMIETTA ON CHARG RANGG OM “BCHERY" AND "CG SEXUAL VIANCY" TO "JOG AN OUTLAWED GROUP." NE HAVE RECEIVED PRISON SENTENC, AND AN ADDNAL 35 ARE FACG TRIAL. (SEVERAL TAE HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO FORCED ANAL EXAMATNS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE SLE OF THE LATT ARRTS HIGHLIGHTS HOW DANGEROLY ENTRENCHED HOMOPHOBIA IS WH THE UNTRY,” SAID AMNTY INTERNATNAL’S NAJIA BOUNAIM.  “THE EGYPTIAN THORI’ ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE VTIGATG THE RABOW FLAG CINT AS A CRIMAL ACT IS UTTERLY ABSURD. NO ONE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR EXPRSG SOLIDARY WH LGBT DIVIDUALS OR BASED ON THEIR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATN.”AFP/GETTY IMAGEGYPTIAN MEN ON TRIAL FOR DOG A VIO PROSECUTORS CLAIMED WAS OF A GAY WEDDG ENTER THE URTROOM CAIRO ON NOVEMBER 1, 2014. THE VIO, FILMED ABOARD A NILE RIVERBOAT, SHOWS WHAT PROSECUTORS SAID WAS A GAY WEDDG CEREMONY, WH TWO MEN THE CENTRE KISSG, EXCHANGG RGS AND CUTTG A KE WH THEIR PICTURE ON . THE EGYPTIAN URT JAILED THE EIGHT MEN FOR THREE YEARS. AFP PHOTO / STR (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ -/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT TECHNILLY ILLEGAL EGYPT, BUT LAWS LIKE THE ON AGAST BCHERY ARE OFTEN ED TO PERSECUTE LGBT EGYPTIANS. (PARLIAMENT IS NSIRG CRIMALIZG SAME-SEX RELATNS WH UP TO 15 YEARS PRISON.) THE CURRENT CLAMPDOWN IS THE MOST SEVERE SCE 2001, WHEN 52 MEN WERE ARRTED AT A FLOATG GAY NIGHTCLUB. (GAY STAR NEWS REPORTS MANY LGBT ACTIVISTS HAVE FLED CAIRO, WH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVG THE UNTRY ALTOGETHER.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE EGYPTIAN ERNMENT, BY ROUNDG PEOPLE UP BASED ON THEIR PRUMED SEXUAL ORIENTATN, IS SHOWG FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR THEIR RIGHTS.” SAID HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH’S SARAH LEAH WHSON. “EGYPT SHOULD STOP DITG STATE ROURC TO HUNTG PEOPLE DOWN FOR WHAT THEY ALLEGEDLY DO THEIR BEDROOMS, OR FOR EXPRSG THEMSELV AT A ROCK NCERT, AND SHOULD STEAD FOC ENERGY ON IMPROVG S DIRE HUMAN RIGHTS RERD.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MASHROU’ LEILA IS URGG FOR TERNATNAL PRSURE ON THE EGYPTIAN ERNMENT “TO IMMEDIATELY HALT S ONGOG WCH-HUNT AND RELEASE ALL TAE.”KARIM SAHIB/AFP/GETTY IMAGHAMED SNO (C), THE LEAD SGER OF LEBANE BAND MASHROU LEILA, PERFORMS ON STAGE AT THE DUBAI INTERNATNAL MARE CLUB DURG A MIC FTIVAL THE UNED ARAB EMIRAT, ON APRIL, 7, ARTISTS NOT TRADNALLY NSIRED MASTREAM ARE GAG GROWG REGNN BOTH AT HOME AND ACROSS THE GLOBE. BANDS LIKE LEBANON'S MASHROU' LEILA AND JORDAN'S AUTOSTRAD, HIP-HOP ARTISTS LIKE IRAQI-CANADIAN NARCY AND PALTIAN MUQATA3A, ALONG WH SOLO ACTS LIKE YASME HAMDAN, ARE AT THE HEAD OF THE MOVEMENT.AUTOSTRAD, NARCY AND MASHROU' LEILA HEADLED THE APRIL 7 CLOSG NIGHT OF DUBAI'S STEP 2017 NFERENCE, AN ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY, DIGAL AND ENTERTAMENT FTIVAL. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ KARIM SAHIB/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}‘WE NNOT BEG TO EXPLA HOW SADNED WE ARE TO SEE YET ANOTHER ERA OF BACKWARDS TYRANNY CREEP OVER ONE OF OUR MOST BELOVED UNTRI AND DIENC," THE BAND SAID A STATEMENT. "THIS CRACKDOWN IS BY NO MEANS SEPARABLE OM THE SUFFOTG ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR AND ABE EXPERIENCED BY ALL EGYPTIANS ON A DAILY BASIS, REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

He is also a gay man who has spent most of his life what has bee one of the most dangero plac to be a sexual mory. “It’s difficult to be gay Egypt, ” he told NBC News.

”A fan of Lebane alternative rock band Mashrou' Leila holds a rabow flag durg their ncert at the Ehniyat Internatnal Ftival Ehn town, Lebanon on Augt 12, Saidi / Rters fileHomosexualy is not explicly illegal this untry that bridg northeast Ai wh the Middle East, but people are routely arrted and imprisoned on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientatn and genr inty, acrdg to Amnty September was the worst crackdown the untry’s history, wh up to 76 people beg taed, acrdg to the human-rights anizatn. The crackdown was sparked after a gay man wavg a rabow flag was arrted durg a ncert Cairo. The cint garnered ternatnal attentn, but one year later, gay Egyptians and human-rights advot say the persecutn ntu, and Egypt’s LGBTQ muny is livg fear.

EGYPTIAN LAWWhile same-sex sexual relatns are not explicly prohibed Egyptian law, a 2017 report by the Internatnal Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associatn (ILGA) found that “the Law on the Combatg of Prostutn, and the law agast bchery have been ed liberally to imprison gay men recent years. ” As such, ILGA clus Egypt s list of 72 untri that crimalize, however, said, “It’s not jt gay, bisexual and transgenr people who the thori are after.