NEWS ARCHIVE:x April 2003x March 2003x February 2003x January 2003x December 2002x November 2002x October 2002x September 2002x August 2002x June 2002x May 2002x April 2002x March 2002x February 2002x January 2002x December 2001xorx Previous Months. WEEKEND OF WORLDWIDE PROTEST ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUEEN BOAT RAID. Posted 11 May 2003 This last weekend witnessed protests across the world on the second anniversary of the Queen Boat Arrests. Protesters remembered the violent police raid on a small floating Cairo discotheque in the early hours of 10 May 2001 which resulted in the arrest and trial of 52 men merely on the basis of their alleged sexual orientation. Subsquently most if not all of them were subjected to torture and public attack and outing in the Egyptian press. The raid marked the beginning of an intensification of the anti-gay clampdown which had long been a halmark of Mubarak's repressive regime. Protesters around the world wore red out of respect from a few brave Egyptians who have begun to wear the colour as a symbol of unity and defiance in the face of intimidation and continued arrests. Several websites and media have given coverage to the protests including this report on gay.com - as follows Gay activists launch protests against Egypt Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network Monday 12 May, 2003 08:30 A weekend of protest began Friday in over a dozen cities across the world against the continued trials and detentions of gays in Egypt and to mark the second anniversary of the Queen Boat raid, which led to the arrests and trial of 52 men. Though many were acquitted after several months, at least 20 were rearrested and convicted for "habitual acts of debauchery," a euphemism for homosexuality. Protesters held an hour-long rally in front of the Egyptian mission in New York on Friday. Michael Heflin, director of Amnesty International's OUTfront program, and journalist Mubarak Dahir, who represented the Gay and Lesbian Arabs, spoke at the event. Most of those attending the New York rally were asked to wear red in solidarity with those participating in a clandestine gay pride demonstration in Egypt. A representative in the press office of the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C., when contacted on Friday for comment about the protests, repeated the common refrain that homosexuality per se was not illegal in Egypt. Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., told the Gay.com/PlanetOut.com Network, "I, along with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), am imploring members of the House to refuse to support free trade agreement with Egypt, until it stops persecution of gays." He said he has "no hopes" for the Bush administration, as it went along with the Islamic bloc to stop a key gay rights vote at the United Nations, but said he pins his hopes on congressional allies to help stop Cairo's persecution. Faisal Alam, founder of Al-Fatiha, a group for gay Muslims, said from Washington, D.C., that the protest weekend had been planned as part of renewing focus on the "human Egyptian tragedy" unfolding in Egypt but was being neglected "because of the war on terrorism and the Iraq war." He said the reason why Egypt had been selected -- while there are many Islamic countries with worse records on gay rights -- was multifaceted. "Egypt does not have any laws against homosexuality, it's the second largest recipient of U.S. monies, or $2 billion each year, even its president and ministers have become parties to the issue, and lastly it is a beacon of hope and light in the larger Muslim community," Alam said. "Egypt has been striving to improve its democratic credentials." Protests are planned for London, Geneva, Madrid, Toronto, Montreal, Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong, Norwegian cities of Bergen and Oslo, Manila and cities across Ireland. Throughout Europe, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) teamed up and bolstered Amnesty International's protest actions. The two bodies are said to be jointly approaching the EU Commission to express concern over the Egypt situation. In Geneva at noon on Saturday, 52 people will chain themselves on the Place des Nations, the entrance to the European headquarters of the United Nations, while in Washington, Amnesty International's OUTfront team and Al-Fatiha will stage a "teach in." WORLDWIDE PROTESTS TODAY AND TOMORROW. Posted 9 May 2003 Late yesterday we received the following email from the ILGBT Committee of Amnesty International. We fully support these worldwide actions but at the same time also call on Egyptian gay men and lesbians to act with the utmost care and discretion given the danger that the authorities may use today to target anyone seen actively protesting in Cairo, Alexandria or elsewhere. Here is the latest news of the planned worldwide protests. Dear friend, I write on behalf of the Amnesty International ILGBT Committee to advise you of the actions which will be taking place this weekend which are listed below. Yours in solidarity, [name deleted until permission obtained to print] Dear All, This is the third and final email from the CT regarding the 10th May "Global Day of Action on Egypt" and should be read in conjunction with the first and second. I have listed below a summary of the planned actions reported by sections/networks to the LGBT list. This information should be communicated to your section's press office as it will be relevant to press interest that actions are taking place across the world. You are reminded that actions targeted at your own governments and assemblies may be more effective than letter writing actions to Egypt. Activists are encouraged to wear red at any actions in solidarity with LGBT Egyptians who will be expressing their 'pride' by wearing red over that weekend. Please remember to take photographs of your actions. The global action is already making a positive impact and promises to be very successful. Full feedback will be provided afterwards. Thanks to every one who is taking part. Actions by country Belgium - Collection of signatures for a petition and the proposal of a motion to the Belgium AI General Assembly. Canada - Toronto - Information and petition table in gay area with local LGBT Muslim group. Petition to be sent to Egyptian Consulate and Ministry of Foreign affairs. Canada - Montreal - Demonstration at the Egyptian Consulate and distribution of leaflets in the gay area. EU Commission - ILGA Europe have put out a press release encouraging all their member organisations to become involved in AI actions. ILGA are also working with AIEU office to write to the EU Commission expressing concern at situation in Egypt. Lobby of EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, who is visiting Egypt on 11-12 May 2003, during which time he will hold talks with top Egyptian officials. France - Paris - A distribution of leaflets in the Marais, the gay area. Germany - Berlin - Information and petition table with street theatre. Greece - Petition and a letter to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs to put pressure to the Egyptian government . Hong Kong - A distribution of leaflets in the gay area and a link up with gay websites used in Hong Kong and the region. Ireland - Action in bars and clubs involving creation of prison bar effect on mirrors by affixing black tape and making reference to the imprisonment of gay men in Egypt. Norway - Bergen - Action involving famous actor coinciding with Pride parade. Stall and letter writing actions. Norway - Oslo - Launch of petition (with signature gathering to culminate on June 27th hopefully with sections director handing them over to Egyptian ambassador). Information and petition table on the main street of Oslo during the day and at night at gay club Soho. The largest gay Internet portal has agreed to write about the case and provide links to sites with signature gathering and letters of appeal. Philippines - Manila - Public delivery of letter of concern to the Egyptian embassy. Also sending a letter to the Philippine foreign affairs department, urging it to raise its concerns. Also sending out a media release. Spain - Barcelona - Demonstration on the Ramblas with other LGBT NGOs. A distribution of leaflets and collection of signatures in the gay area for a petition. Spain - Madrid - Press release by section office. Switzerland - Geneva - Demonstration in front of the UN European head quarters at Place Des Nations. At noon on May 10, 2003, 52 people will chain themselves on the Place des Nations, the entrance to the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva. UK - London - Demonstration at Cleopatra's Needle, an Egyptian monument in central London - 10th May 12 noon. Various LGBT NGOs will join the demonstration as will the board of AIUK. A distribution of leaflets in and around Soho, the gay area. A distribution of postcards to be sent to MPs, lobbying for pressure to be put on the Foreign Ministry to exercise influence on Egypt. Letter from AIUK to Foreign Secretary expressing concern at situation in Egypt. Uruguay - Press release on the Global Action on Egypt. Demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Montevideo on Friday 9, approx. from 2 to 5 p.m. The action is co-organized by the AI group and other groups from the Uruguayan Pride Coordination. They will carry the Amnesty International and the Rainbow flags, will hold black-painted frames with bars in front of their faces, and hand out leaflets demanding the release "of those jailed for loving". They will also be using a loudspeaker, just in case the ambassador is sleeping "siesta".... US - New York City - AI NYC OUTfront Action Team is organizing a protest rally at the Egyptian Consulate office -- 1110 Second Avenue between 58/59th Streets. The rally will take place Friday, May 9, from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. This rally is being widely publicized to AI activists and LGBT activitist in the NYC metro area. If you know activists in NYC who might be interested please encourage them to participate. For more information on the NYC rally contact OUTfront intern Mirsada Useinovic at -- Useinovic1@aol.com. US - Washington DC - The MidAtlantic Region Office and the AI DC OUTfront Action Team (newly re-organizing) are planning a "teach in" in the afternoon on May 10th. The teach in will be followed by a public action which will include gathering signatures and getting petitions signed on the cases. This will be followed by a debriefing and refreshments. The DC teach in will likely take place in Dupont Circle followed by petition signing and information distribution in Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan as well as other possible areas. The specific location will be determined in the next few days. If you know activists in DC who might be interested please encourage them to participate. For more information on the DC teach in and public action contact MidAtlantic Program Assistant Sara Weller at -- sweller@aiusa.org. Both the DC and NYC events are being organized in collaboration with Al-Fatiha and numerous other organizations are being encouraged to participate. US - National Actions - Special Action Center Action Commerating 2nd Anniversary of Queen Boat case: AIUSA's Action Center will release a special action next week on the 2nd anniversary of the Queen Boat case. The action will draw attention to the the ongoing persecution of men perceived to be gay in Egypt. Petition Drive by email and via internet. In addition to the special action center action and the petition the US will also be distributing a special appeal case on behalf of Wissam Tawfiq Abyad and Zaki Sayid Zaki Abd al-Malak. US - Additional Local Events - Local OUTfront Coordinators are working on developing their own action plans. PROTESTS PLANNED FOR THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE "QUEEN BOAT" RAID. Posted 2 May 2003 This is the U.S. section of Amnesty's plan for action this month - From Amnesty International USA - http://www.aiusa.org Media Advisory For Immediate Release: Contact: Michelle Linder (212) 633-4268 Or Ariel Herrera (212) 633-4281 Thursday, May 1, 2003 Human Rights Activists to Rally for Cause of Egypt 52 (New York) - In an act of global support for the 'Egypt 52,' Amnesty International USA's (AIUSA) OUTfront program and Al-Fatiha are marking the second anniversary of the men's arrest with a public rally and protest against continuing Internet entrapment and detention of gay men in Egypt. The rally is scheduled for 12:30 PM at the Egyptian Consulate in New York, 1110 Second Avenue. Michael Heflin, the director of AIUSA's OUTfront program, will address the participants, telling them to call or write Egyptian officials and demand that the government end human rights abuses of homosexuals. "All LGBT people and allies are coming together to put pressure on the Egyptian government. We want them to know that we won't stop until they do," said Heflin. The New York rally will be held in conjunction with actions of Amnesty International sections across the globe, including in France, Germany, the Philippines and Hong Kong, as well as planned activities in cities across the US. At noon on May 10, 2003, 52 people will chain themselves on the Place des Nations, the entrance to the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva. Those attending the New York rally are asked to wear red in solidarity with those participating in a clandestine gay pride demonstration in Egypt. WHAT: Rally & Protest Against Persecution of Gay People in Egypt WHEN: Friday, May 9, 2003 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM WHERE: Egyptian Consulate, 1110 Second Ave. between 58 and 59 Street, New York City www.amnestyusa.org/outfront 13 MAY 2003: GAYEGYPT.COM IS URGENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW OWNER/S DEDICATED ENOUGH TO UPDATE IT ON A DAILY BASIS - PLEASE CONTACT FREEDOM4EGYPT@HOTMAIL.COM. IT HAS HAD OVER 620,000 VISITORS IN THE LAST YEAR. |