Fifty-two sobbing and pro-testing men arrested at an alleged gay gathering pleaded innocent on Wednesday at the opening of a case that has shocked conservative and deeply religious Egypt.
Occupying one side of the packed courtroom, the men cursed and screamed as the prosecutor read the charges. Two were accused of a range of religious offences and others were charged with debauchery and having gay sex.
Ashraf Hilal, for the prosecution, told the state security court that Sherif Farahat and Mahmoud Ahmed Allam were charged with contempt of religion, falsely interpreting the Koranand exploiting Islam to promote deviant ideas. They were also charged with immoral behaviour. Contempt of religion is punishable by up to five years in jail. The debauchery offence carries a maximum sentence of three years.
International human rights groups condemned the May arrests, with some claiming the defendants were persecuted for allegedly being gay.
Egyptian law does not explicitly refer to homosexuality, but a wide range of laws covering obscenity and public morality carry jail terms.
When the defendants were arrested on a Nile riverboat restaurant, police said they were holding a gay sex party. Prosecutors later changed tack and said the group was meeting a self-styled preacher.
"We only want mercy," cried one defendant from the courtroom dock, over the din of wailing family members. Another yelled: "We've been detained without any evidence against us."
Many of the defendants claimed they were not on the boat during the police raid.
The case has caused a storm in Egypt, where homosexuality is regarded as a sin. Some newspapers have published graphic reports, including the names and photos of some of the defendants.
Many of the men covered their faces with towels or tissues to avoid cameras yesterday. Relatives clashed with reporters, accusing them of defaming the defendants.
Khadiga Ramadan, mother of Abdel Moeiti Salah, said she first learnt of the charges against her son from newspapers. "By God, he is not involved in this," she said, alleging that her son was taken off the street by police and detained for 20 days before his family discovered where he was.
Another accused, Mohammed Ibrahim, said he was beaten by police during his arrest at a gymnasium where he works as a trainer. While in custody, he was also given a medical examination to test if he had taken part in gay sex, he told reporters.
The case was adjourned until 15 August. (AP)
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