Egypt TV host jailed for interviewing gay man
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 09:57:16 +0000
Mohammed el-Gheiti
An Egyptian court has sentenced a TV presenter to a year in prison for interviewing a gay sex worker on his show.
Mohammed el-Gheiti was found guilty of encouraging immorality over an August 2018 segment in which the guest described his profession.
El-Gheiti, who can appeal the ruling, was fined around $170 (R8,990) and is free pending a final verdict.
The charges stem from a complaint filed by a private lawyer.
Egypt has waged a crackdown on perceived homosexuality in recent years, imprisoning people on vague charges of “debauchery.”
Homosexuality is not a crime in Egypt, but is widely seen as taboo in the conservative, Muslim-majority country.
Prostitution is illegal. In September 2017, authorities arrested dozens of people after several waved an LGBT rainbow flag at a Cairo concert. (AP)