Source: The Tahrir Institute For Middle East Policy
Author(s): Muhammed Fadel
Original Link: https://timep.org/commentary/social-stigma-enables-egypts-attack-on-lgbt-community/
The world has made major progress in LGBT rights in the last few years. Same-sex marriage is now allowed in several countries and the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed an independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Yet in Egypt, LGBT individuals and activists are still sent to prison and socially shamed and attacked. Egypt’s arrests of at least 65 people following a concert in September at which a rainbow flag was raised are part of state authorities’ systematic attack on the LGBT community, which faces a social stigma in which homosexuality is considered a disease and indication of psychological disturbance. The socially aggravated violence against LGBT individuals provides judges with the legal argument for considering homosexuality as an immoral practice, and gives a green light to attack the queer community without fear of opposition or questioning violations committed by law enforcement authorities….
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