'Extremist' gay trial resumes in Egypt

Two of the accused men at the start of their trial in July

By Caroline Hawley in Cairo

The trial of more than 50 men suspected of being gay has resumed in an Egyptian state security court.

The two main defendants are accused of exploiting religion to spread extremist ideas, while the others are charged with practising debauchery.

Lawyers say the charge is one usually used against prostitutes, and carries up to three years in jail.

Although it is a major social and cultural taboo, Egyptian law does not specifically penalise homosexuality, and the gay community had until recently been largely tolerated.

The men were arrested at a floating nightclub

In May, though, police raided a disco on board the Queen Boat, a luxury vessel moored on the Nile, and a known gay hang-out.

Fifty-five people were detained - all but three of them are now on trial.

The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, say they were forced to undergo internal examinations to see if they had had anal sex.

Cyberspace community

The case has shocked Egypt's underground gay community, that had just begun coming out on the internet.

Some accuse the government of trying to divert attention from the country's political and economic problems, while others believe it was the increasing visibility of Egyptian gays in cyberspace that prompted the authorities to act.

Activists say that over the past few months gay men have found themselves being set up by police on false dates over the internet.

Then came the Queen Boat arrests.

Most of the gay mailing lists that had recently sprung up have now closed down and activists say gay Egyptians who can are trying to leave the country.