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Egyptian police arrest seven 'transsexuals' in Cairo on debauchery charges | Egyptian police arrest seven 'transsexuals' in Cairo on debauchery charges |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Egyptian police have arrested seven men believed to be transsexuals for debauchery - the charge often used against men accused of homosexuality. | |
Major General Magdy Moussa of the Morality Police called the seven “preverts”, and said they had formed a “network for practicing debauchery” on social media, according to a report by the Al-Youm el-Saba newspaper, translated by Cairo Scene. | Major General Magdy Moussa of the Morality Police called the seven “preverts”, and said they had formed a “network for practicing debauchery” on social media, according to a report by the Al-Youm el-Saba newspaper, translated by Cairo Scene. |
Mr Moussa went on to allege that the force has evidence to suggest that members of the group had published naked photos of themselves online. | Mr Moussa went on to allege that the force has evidence to suggest that members of the group had published naked photos of themselves online. |
He added that the government had monitored the men, and created fake webpages to entrap them. | He added that the government had monitored the men, and created fake webpages to entrap them. |
The group were subsequently arrested at a nightclub in the capital Cairo, after police arranged to meet them at a club on Al-Haram Road and move on to an apartment “to participate in debauchery.” | The group were subsequently arrested at a nightclub in the capital Cairo, after police arranged to meet them at a club on Al-Haram Road and move on to an apartment “to participate in debauchery.” |
Shortly after, Al-Youm el-Saba broadcast a video that appears to shows the seven men talking with the police. | Shortly after, Al-Youm el-Saba broadcast a video that appears to shows the seven men talking with the police. |
The police sting comes after 26 men arrested in a raid on a bathouse were acquitted in January, and were cleared of charges including debauchery. | The police sting comes after 26 men arrested in a raid on a bathouse were acquitted in January, and were cleared of charges including debauchery. |
“They destroyed our lives. God rescued us,” said one of the defendants at the time. | “They destroyed our lives. God rescued us,” said one of the defendants at the time. |
While there are no laws in Egypt criminalising homosexuality, a decades' old law criminalising prostitution is often used in penalising the LGBT community. | While there are no laws in Egypt criminalising homosexuality, a decades' old law criminalising prostitution is often used in penalising the LGBT community. |
Five of the defendants in Monday's trial - the owner of the bathhouse and four staff members - were tried for facilitating debauchery in exchange for money. | Five of the defendants in Monday's trial - the owner of the bathhouse and four staff members - were tried for facilitating debauchery in exchange for money. |
Human rights activists say 2014 was the worst year in a decade for Egypt's gay community, with at least 150 men arrested or put on trial. | Human rights activists say 2014 was the worst year in a decade for Egypt's gay community, with at least 150 men arrested or put on trial. |
Last month it was revealed that authorities in Egypt are using “abusive” anal examination techniques they claim can detect “chronic homosexuals”, to arrest and imprison men. | Last month it was revealed that authorities in Egypt are using “abusive” anal examination techniques they claim can detect “chronic homosexuals”, to arrest and imprison men. |
The government is using discredited scientific theories dating back more than 150 years to conduct the so-called tests, which are common in around 70 countries where sodomy is still illegal. | The government is using discredited scientific theories dating back more than 150 years to conduct the so-called tests, which are common in around 70 countries where sodomy is still illegal. |
A Human Rights Watch report called the homosexuality tests “invasive, intrusive, abusive, and profoundly humiliating…a form of torture, carried out in violation of international standards and professional principles”. | A Human Rights Watch report called the homosexuality tests “invasive, intrusive, abusive, and profoundly humiliating…a form of torture, carried out in violation of international standards and professional principles”. |
Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |
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