Two Egyptian film stars are on a mission to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in a conservative country that has an unofficial policy of jailing people infected with the disease. Amr Waked, whose controversial film roles have make him a target of press attacks, and Khaled Abul Naga, who was recently named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, want Egypt to face the taboo of AIDS.
The initiative was in part prompted by the April 9 jailing and convictions of five men, four of whom are HIV-positive, for three years on charges of "debauchery," a term used to criminalize sex between homosexuals. Though homosexuality itself is not on a list of sexual offenses explicitly outlawed in Egypt, it can be punished under several morality statutes.
Since October, seven other gay men have been arrested and forcibly given HIV tests, said Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Three of these men were released, and four were sentenced to a year in prison.
Bahgat believes the arrests are not so much an attack against the gay community as a crackdown on HIV/AIDS. "Unlike incidents in the past this is not a renewed homophobic attack, but it's an offensive against AIDS via security measures," he said.
"These convictions will only further reinforce prejudices while making the fight against AIDS all the more difficult," said Waked.
Abul Naga concurred. "The convictions are very worrying, increasing the idea that AIDS is not a disease to treat but a crime to punish," he said. "People will be too scared to take an HIV test voluntarily."
Waked remains hopeful that Egyptian society can one day openly discuss HIV/AIDS. "Egypt is starting to move forward, a whole generation is waiting for it," he noted.
04/26/08
Egypt Film Stars Seek to Shatter Stigma of AIDS
Source: Agence France Presse :: Alain Navarro; Courtesy of the CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention