Fridae

A controversial trial of 52 suspected homosexual men has resumed in an Egyptian state security court on Wednesday.

Two of the 52 men are accused of using religion to spread extremist ideas while the rest are charged with practising debauchery, reports the BBC. If convicted, the former charge carries a jail term of up to five years and the latter three.

While Egyptian law does not explicitly refer to homosexuality, a wide range of laws covering obscenity and public morality are punishable by jail terms. Homosexuality is a major social and cultural taboo.

The court had barred family and relatives from the trial as they physically and verbally attacked photographers at the opening session on July 18, saying the press had defamed the men by making public their names, ages and occupations.

More than 60 international human and gay rights groups including Amnesty International and International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have endorsed gay Muslim group, Al-Fatiha Foundation's call to action.

On Wednesday, human rights activists held protests outside Egyptian embassies and consulates, Some 50 people held a demonstration outside UN offices in Geneva Wednesday, holding up letters in French that spelled out: "Human Rights in Egypt � Free the 52 Gays."

While in Sweden, about 20 gay rights activists demonstrated outside the Egyptian Embassy in Stockholm and turned in a letter protesting the trial.

The court case, which began in July, has prompted sharp criticism from international rights groups, which say the men are being tried for their possible sexual orientation and for exercising freedom of speech and association.

The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, were arrested in mid May at a gay venue in Cairo.

An Al-Fatiha statement advised that the Egyptian government has shut down all of its email addresses both at its consulates and missions abroad as well as those within Egypt in anticipation of a flood of email protests.