from LA TimesLaura King
An Egyptian court on Monday acquitted 26 men on charges of “debauchery” -- a term commonly used here as code for homosexual acts -- but only after they had endured public humiliation, weeks in jail and, in at least three cases, apparent sexual assault while in custody. The acquittals were welcomed by the men’s supporters, but the case was held up as an example of an increasingly hostile climate toward gay people under Egypt’s authoritarian government. Although homosexuality is not technically illegal, dozens of people have been prosecuted in recent months for alleged acts such as public lewdness or habitual indecency that are generally invoked when gays are targeted.
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