 about egypt
official name: Arab Republic of Egypt (Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah)
capital: Cairo
head of state: President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
state: multi party democracy
population: 73.4 million
independence: from Britain 1922
languages: Arabic (English and French widely understood)
religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic (and other) Christian 6%
coptic spell to get a man
currency: Egyptian Pound
media: Cairo Press Review at http://www.sis.gov.eg/pressrev/html/frame.htm. http://www.metimes.com
Cairo Times Online www.cairotimes.com
legal wise
status of homosexuality: not illegal per se, but there are regulations about "offenses against public morals and sensitivities"
age of consent: 18
laws covering homosexual activity: Egyptian law does not explicitly refer to homosexuality, but a wide range of laws covering "obscenity" and "public morality" are punishable by jail terms. "Contempt of religion" (falsely interpreting the Koran and exploiting Islam to promote deviant ideas) is punishable by up to five years in jail. Immoral behaviour, "debauchery" is punishable by up to a maximum sentence of three years in jail. Also laws concerning prostitution have recently been invoked against gay men arranging meetings via the Internet. While homosexual acts are not illegal, sodomy with more than one partner is defined as an "obscenity" and is punishable.
background information and government attitudes:
The Egyptian government and security forces have become increasing homophobic and there is a general 'crack down' on groups and individuals. The police are using 'guides' and the Internet to entrap gay men - it is very risky for Egyptians to try to meet with unknown members of their community and although no foreigners have yet been charged threats have been made regarding tourists seeking gay sex in Egypt.
The article perverted organisation's manifesto appeared in the weekly Rose al Youssef, known to most as the voice of Egyptian Intelligence. Iit tends to cover subjects relating to important arrests right before they happen!
Voted against ILGA having consultative status at the UN on April 30, 2002.
Civil society groups (including NGOs) face severe restrictions under the law governing non governmental organisations (which is called the law governing associations, Law 84/2002, which came into effect in June 2003). In addition, the country's security services scrutinize and harass civil society activists even though the law does not accord them any such powers.
On 5 July 2005 Human Rights Watch issued a report on this Egyptian law and its implementation entitled "Margins of Repression: State Limits on Nongovernmental Organization Activism" http://hrw.org/reports/2005/egypt0705/ . Human Rights Watch documented numerous cases where the security services rejected NGO registrations, decided who could serve on NGO boards of directors, harassed NGO activists, and interfered with donations reaching the groups.
Since 1954, Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak have have perpetuated a system that tolerates torture, represses political opponents, denies full equality before the law for women, and undermines the notions of rule of law and of political and legal limitations to the power of the executive. And still, somehow, Egyptian citizens continue to assert their rights (often at great personal risk to themselves and their families) to attain greater power - the power to vote, the power to have a voice in government, the power to assemble, to a free press, to expression and belief. Egyptians continue to organize, as best they can under repressive conditions, in NGOs, syndicates, and political parties. However, there is much more for them to do in order to realize their rights more fully.
From Freedom House's Countries at the Crossroads: 2005 A Survey of Democratic Governance www.freedomhouse.org/research/crossroads/2005/egypt2005.pdf
communication
main lines in use: 9.6 million (2005)
cellular telephones: 8,583,940 (2005).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 42 (plus 15 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999).
Television broadcast stations: 98 (Sept. 1995).
Internet hosts: 3,401 (2004).
Internet users: 4.2 million (2005).
links and contacts
http://www.gayegypt.com
Articles:
 google vows to change derogatory gay translation
by Mask Admin 1/8/2006
EGYPT - August 1, 2006: When the word �gay� is entered into Google�s translation tools, the word �luti� is returned, an Arabic equivalent of �sodomite�, to the ire of gay activists.
egypt debates controversial film
by Mask Admin 5/7/2006
EGYPT � July 5, 2006: A controversial film is to be reviewed by the Egyptian parliament after 112 MPs demanded censorship of homosexual scenes, an independent MP has claimed.
arabs and aids
by Mask Admin 25/5/2006
OPINION � May 25, 2006:Arab countries argue that Islamic practices protect them from HIV. How true is this?
fear of arrest results in egyptian gays not having hiv tests
by Mask Admin 5/4/2006
EGYPT � April 5, 2006: The lack of gay and bisexual men in Egypt requesting tests for HIV has been blamed on police raids based on medical records kept at hospitals.
police gaydar - 45 days in an egyptian prison
by Mask Admin 26/8/2004
August 26, 2004: As a reporter for GME, I've interviewed many gay men throughout our region about their experiences vis a vis their families, workplaces, friends and general situation in their countries. Never before was I so affected by an interview, than my interview with Shadi.
 report continues to cause a stir by Mask Admin 11/5/2004
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War against gays and lesbians
