CAIRO, September 5, 2001

The high security emergency court reconvened in the controversial trial of
52 suspected homosexual men on Wednesday September 5, 2001. As happened
before, families were not allowed into the courtroom although there was
plenty of space for everybody. Only lawyers, journalists and diplomats from
different countries were allowed in.

Several photographers and the French TV Channel2 were allowed in the
courtroom regardless of the protest of the suspects and their families. The
French TV recorded nearly the whole session. Most of the suspects were
shouting that they are not gays and reading parts of the Koran (The Moslems
Holy Book), even those who are gay had to deny their homosexuality to avoid
social death.

The prosecutor repeated the same accusation and the same speeches he had
said the last week. Nothing new was said or happened notwithstanding that
the trial started at 12:00 and ended at 5:00 PM. Lawyers were due to comment
on evidence released after the last session. But not all of them were able
to point out their statement before the judge said at the end of the session
that the trial would resume on Wednesday September 19, 2001.

The suspect number 53, who is a minor, is facing the same charges of
habitually practicing debauchery in front of a special court for minors. The
last session was on Tuesday September 4, 2001 were the trial will continue
on Tuesday September 18, 2001.

Horus

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