Keywords Avoiding the Sex Police in Cairo Skip to xxCairo main page, xxCairo Downtown and City Centre,xx Suburban Cairo,xx Giza and the Pyramids,xx xx Cairo hotels,xx orxxTen best ways to find sex. RELATIVE RISKS There is no place and no person who is safe from arrest when seeking gay sex in Cairo. The state security and sex police are at war with Cairo's gay community and the police are also dropping hints that they may start to arrest foreigners soon. Whether this is a bluff or not is impossible to know. Before the police raid on the Queen Boat floating discotheque in May 2001, the following were sometimes said to be "must sees" for the gay visitor in Cairo. 1. The cruising areas around Medan Tahrir and Sharia Talaat Harb [ evenings ]. 2. The Taverne Bar at the Nile Hilton Hotel [ very late on Thursday evenings ] 3. Harry's Bar at the Marriott Hotel [ evenings for those with a thick wallet ] 4. The Fishaawi Coffee Shop in Khan El Khalili [ almost anytime ] 5. The Corniche East Bank between the Nile Hilton and Ramses Hilton hotels [ at and around dusk ]. 6. The Pyramids periphery [ Mornings or afternoons - if you have money and wish to entertain a handsome horse rider ] and 7. The shopping areas and cafes of Mohandiseen including the Coffee Roastery [ afternoons and evenings ] However, there is a lot to be said in favour of avoiding the "fashionable" locales which are anyway changing every day in response to the constant police raids and actions. It might be less risky to use your own guesswork and experience to cruise any of Cairo's many parks, shopping malls, public toilets or swimming pools, amusement parks or seedy cinemas. It is probably safer to confidently chat up someone in a little known suburban park than to respond shyly but warmly to the overtures of a young man in Medan Tahrir who turns out to be a police guide. That said, however, nowhere in Cairo is ever completely safe. Due to the dangers posed by police and the consequent shifts in cruising locales, the listings contained in the Cairo pages and indeed in all our other city guides should be regarded more as examples of the sort of opportunities and places in Cairo that may be worth trying out - providing you are willing to take that risk - rather than an exact guide in the conventional sense. IS IT SAFE TO CAMP IT UP ? Definitely not. If you act or dress in a camp manner, you are a more courageous man than most, but you are very likely to draw the attention and anger of the police. We can't say it's wrong to be so "foolhardy" - in fact it's very brave and in many ways extremely admirable - but do consider the likely consequences. Gays in prison are treated worse than other prisoners, are often subjected to beatings and sexual abuse and on conviction in court you are likely to receive a long sentence. Also consider the possible effect on your career and job prospects as your name may well be published in the newspapers. DEALING WITH THE POLICE If you are caught do not trust any promise of release in return for signing a confession. Especially if you are asked to sign one you can't read, don't understand or a blank piece of paper. However, if faced between the alternative of torture or signing something you must then weigh up the relative risks yourself but it is very likely they will be able to get you to sign eventually. If you can safely play for more time then do so and also consider if you can provide misleading information which may win your release but only if you have considered all the possible follow up questions and possible consequences if your "deceit" is discovered. Don't assume you will never be caught. Do prepare for many hours what you will tell the police for they will get you to talk. Don't just refuse to say anything. If you decide to give them misleading information do give plenty of thought to it before you even start cruising the streets. You will be questioned for hours, even days, often without the opportunity of sleep. You are also likely to be beaten and/or threatened. INTERROGATION ADVICE UPDATE 1. Use every opportunity to avoid arrest during a round-up. Once you are in detention you will wish you had not been so easily caught. 2. If you find yourself in police custody don't be too submissive or too aggressive as either will encourage them to be more violent. 3. Don't talk about anything. Just give your name and assert that you are innocent of any charge. Don't get involved in any discussion. Never use the word "Yes" - as this can be inserted onto a tape later as evidence of a confession. If asked "Do you want water ?", nod your head instead. 4. Don't sign anything, however trivial. It will be used to prove you "signed" your confession. 5. Don't listen to threats that you will be killed or raped. Never believe that submission will lessen your suffering and remember it is part of their strategy to terrify you. 6. Take your revenge on your interrogator by quietly despising everything about him. Use any opportunity to make an obscene gesture when he's not looking. It will help you to feel that you are not just a helpless victim. But don't get caught ! 7. The police will tell you that your friends have betrayed you. But beware this is standard interrogation strategy to get you to betray your friends. They may also explain that they already know everything and tell you what happened. But don't let that persuade you to talk. 8. Never look directly at your interrogator, it will make it easier for him to tell when you're lieing. Instead look downwards and avoid eye contact. 9. Don't start talking too early. The police won't be so easily satisfied and they want to know more. May be more than you can tell them. Hold out as long as possible. If the torture becomes unbearable try fainting or exaggerating the pain. It may buy you more time. If this doesn't work tell them half truths which you think they might believe but which still makes it difficult for them to prove your guilt or to discover the identity of your gay friends and new meeting places. 10. Start thinking and planning today what you will do if you are ever arrested. You Sign Up For Free With - OutPersonals.com - 500,000 Worldwide Gay Personals !  |
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