TV show issues statement after backlash over 'homosexual den' episode
TV show set to air expose on alleged gay Cairo bathhouse says it showed 'professionalism' in its coverage, despite backlash over sensationalism
Osman El Sharnoubi , Monday 8 Dec 2014
Logo of Al-Qahera Wal Nas channel's show El-Mestakhabi (Photo: Courtesy of El-Mestakhabi's official Facebook page)
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The cast of El-Mestakhabi, a TV show on private satellite station Al-Qahera Wal Nas, issued a statement stressing its "professionalism" in its investigative coverage of a Cairo bathhouse where men allegedly pay for private gay sex parties.
The statement came after an announcement on Sunday on the public Facebook page of the show's presenter Mona Iraqi that an episode "exposing the largest den of group homosexuality in the heart of Cairo" will be aired in El-Mestakhabi's coming episodes.
The page showed photos watermarked by the show showing semi-naked men hiding their faces from cameras being hauled out of the bathhouse in Cairo's Ramses district.
In response, a backlash of comments on Iraqi's page accused her of violating professional and ethical codes of media coverage, referring to the manner in which she portrayed the detained men and a photo showing filming with her iPhone as the stream of men file past.
"During the production of this investigative series ... we assure we have worked towards achieving the highest degree of accuracy and professionalism in observing international professional, humane and scientific rules," the cast's statement said.
The statement seemed to distance itself from Iraqi's Sunday announcement, which said that "the cast represents only its professional coverage that will be aired as part of the episodes of the series. In this respect, we ask viewers not to form positive or negative views on the content of the episode prematurely."
In Monday's statement, the show referred to the subject of the episode as "the selling of group sex for males" instead of Iraqi's sensational reference to "sessions of group sex in front of the eyes and ears of those present."
Tens of angry comments flooded Iraqi's public Facebook page as well as her private one, on which she has allowed comments.
"So now the name of the episode is 'the selling of group sex for males?' Wasn't the 'journalist' referring to it as the homosexual group sex den?" prominent Egyptian lawyer and human rights defender Hossam Bahgat wrote.
Many accused Iraqi of seeking fame by invading people's privacy and "destroying the lives of others."
A conservative society, most Egyptians don't accept open homosexuality.
"This photo [of Iraqi filming the men entering the police van] will haunt you your entire life. May you be happy and proud as you photograph inside a men's bathhouse and ruin men's reputations for a scoop," Facebook user Peter Rullez wrote.
Speaking to Ahram Online, human rights lawyer Mohamed Bakir said the frequency of such crackdowns against gay Egyptians has increased.
Bakir, who follows such cases closely, said a trend started in 2012 under Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, but is continuing under current President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
"I don't have an explanation for it, but there are close to 20 similar cases this year alone," Bakir said. He suspects the particular motive for the bathhouse raid was to crack down on homosexuals and not just a possible place where men pay for sex.
The most recent case was in November, when eight men were sentenced to three years in prison after they were shown appearing to take part in a wedding celebration featuring two men as the celebrants. The video went viral on social media sites and their sentence is being appealed.
The men – as in all such cases, according to Bakir – were charged with "debauchery." There is no law criminalising homosexuality in Egypt.
Egyptian police on Monday announced the arrest of a "network of homosexuality" in the Ramsis bathhouse.
A security official told news website Aswat Masriya that the bathhouse owner charged money from customers to join "group sex parties" held every Sunday.
The episode will be aired Monday night.
Osman El Sharnoubi
Egypt should be ashamed of "journalist's" public attack on gays show.
it is certainly regrettable that Egypt, whose glittering civilization was a beacon for the ancient world has been reduced to a voyeuristic police state which attacks it's own citizens for the "crime" of being gay. I know that contemporary Egypt is a very conservative country, but that does not excuse the targeting of Egyptian citizens for abuse and condemnation. it is strange when Egyptians of 3,000 years ago were more tolerant and civilized when it came to the private lives of it's citizens. The despicable "T.V. journalist" Mona Iraqi, has made Egypt a laughing stock in much of the rest of the world with her unprofessional collusion with the law enforcement authorities. But it is a sign of hope for the future that her hammam "victims" were acquitted in an Egyptian court. I truly hope they sue Iraqi for slander against them. Maybe there is hope for tolerance and human rights in Egypt after all. For ALL Egyptians.
Comment's Title
Sam Enslow
Bad for investment, bad for tourism, bad for public health, good for mafias
Egypt seeks international investment. This raid tells people like Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, that he and his money is not welcome in Egypt. It also makes other technology companies wary of coming to Egypt. Take a chance in Egypt at the cost of billions in business from Apple? Bring new staff to Egypt that will have their private lives place them in danger? Many who work in tourism happen to be gay. These people will want to sell trips to a country that will jail them even if they must streach the law to do so? Many countries seek gay tourists because they are or tend to be big spending tourists. A group threatened by AIDS should be afraid to be tested? Mafias thrive selling what is prohibited. Live and let live. Egypt has enough real problems.
Isir
Good job, Egypt security for upholding morality! Whoever accuses Egyptian government under President Sisi of not being strict enough in regards to Sharia, or not fearing Allah, are liars. There are consequences for people's immoral actions, and they need to be punished, and such lewd behavior needs to be discouraged by the government via strict, harsh punishment. This disgusting disregard for Allah's commands by these evil homosexuals needs to end NOW!
Orenthal
Encourage it
It is so, so difficult to get smelly Egyptian men to take baths. We should encourage this fagggy behavior to promote cleanliness.
Instead of harassing innocent gays, go after terrorists
Instead of harassing innocent gays, go after terrorists. These men did not rape anyone nor is any pedophilia involved. They are consenting adults. Just shut the bath houses down but don't ruin people's lives.