Egypt’s Rainbow Raids
Sisi is whipping up homophobia and targeting gay people to distract his base from rising unemployment and inflation.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi looks on as he meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House on April 3, 2017.AFP / Getty
Since September 22, Egyptian security services have arrested dozens of so-called “queer suspects” in an ongoing crackdown on the country’s LGBTQ community.
That day, Mashrou’ Leila, a Lebanese band whose lead singer advocates for gay rights, played in Cairo. A handful of young people waved rainbow flags during the performance, sparking a media uproar and unleashing the current raids — the biggest in roughly twenty years.
Egypt does not officially outlaw homosexuality, but the country’s “Morality Police” have become experts at fabricating charges based on the country’s vague laws against “debauchery” and “prostitution.”
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.