We’re sharing this statement in solidarity with SOGIE rights groups operating in the Middle East and North Africa. It’s by Mantiqitna (a SOGIE group operating in Arab states) recent crackdown and harassment of LGBTIQ in Egypt.

Respecting human rights is the true legitimacy

While the world is celebrating the Human rights day calling for human rights for everyone everywhere, LGBTIQ populations seems to be always left behind.

On December 7th, Egyptian police have raided a bathhouse in central Cairo and arrested 33 men on suspicion of “debauchery” – a charge that has been used against homosexual people in Egypt extensively. Since October 2013, there has been a brutal crackdown on LGBTIQ population in Egypt with the arrest & prosecution for over 200 homosexual & transsexual persons on shameful publicized political trials violating their ground breaking rights to privacy, non discrimination, not to be punished or tortured based on their status, Arbitrary arrest & prosecution in addition to a long list of Human rights that are violated based on their own identity.

The current regime attitude seems not to be different from the previous Mubaraks one who used morality cases & crackdown on minorities to distract public opinion & fed on their fear even gain moral points in a fight with the Islamic fundamentalists, the Queen Boat incident in 2001 – when 52 men were arrested and prosecuted based on their sexual orientation & gender identity – stands out as an example of such attitude.

Legitimacy of the states is not only obtained by polls; it most importantly obtained by respect and fulfillment of human rights for everyone and especially minorities.

Culture & tradition can’t be invoked in matters of human rights; allegation of Homosexuality being a disease, a western value or new to eastern societies is not tolerated and reflects great non-knowledge to history & science.

Modern hetero-normative relationships are not necessarily the norm throughout history, and that in many cultures the family unit was not bound by modern day constructs including eastern cultures.

We call on Egypt current government to prove its legitimacy & good intention for development by cherishing human rights & not by interfering in its people own privacy & personal choices.

Signatories

• International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).
• Solidarity with Egyptian LGBT.
• MOSAIC MENA organization for Services, Advocacy, integration & capacity building

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