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AN EGYPTIAN COURT has sentenced a television host to one year in prison for interviewing a gay man last year, a judicial source said.
Mohamed al-Gheiti, who has expressed his stance against homosexuality on several occasions, was accused of promoting homosexuality and contempt of religion.
The misdemeanours court in Giza also fined him 3,000 Egyptian pounds (€147) and ordered he be put under surveillance for one year after serving his sentence, said Samir Sabri, the lawyer who brought the case against him.
The verdict can be appealed, and it can be suspended if Gheiti pays bail of 1,000 pounds pending the outcome of the appeal, said Sabri.
In August 2018, Gheiti hosted a gay man on his talk show on the private LTC TV station and discussed homosexuality on air.
During the interview, the gay man, whose face was blurred to hide his identity, said he was a sex worker and openly talked about his relationship with another man.
After the interview was aired, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Egypt’s top media body, suspended the channel for two weeks for “professional violations”.
In a statement at the time, the council said the LTC TV had violated its decision “banning the appearance of homosexuals or promotion of their slogans”.
The council banned the appearance of homosexuals on any outlet after a rainbow flag — symbolic of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community — was waved during a Cairo concert in 2017.
At the time, the authorities launched a large-scale crackdown on suspected homosexuals, triggering condemnation from right groups.
Homosexuality is not expressly outlawed in Egypt, but gays have previously been charged with debauchery in the deeply conservative Muslim society.
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Is this another casualty of spiralling insurance premiums?
@5hbeZh0I: They wanted to add a swing
Sad, as Irish film making needs as many outlets as it can get. More films seem to be getting made as production costs are getting lower. Its a valuable craft that needs exposure.
“One of Ireland’s best known”
Never heard of it, was it like Cans?
very hard to get sponsors these for any event big or small. economy is supposed to be booming but extra spending is being cut back.
Very sad to hear this. It is such a highly regarded festival. What a loss for our young Irish animators in particular , as this was such an important international platform to launch their work. The Festival also engaged with primary schools, where children got to vote on the Best Animation category and even visit the festival. Maurice Galway and his team are highly regarded ambassadors and promoters of Irish talent and young international newbies. What a stingy mistake.
lack o funding – or increased insurance costs ?
have your say