Egyptian official criticizes EU

Fathi Srour, president of the Egyptian parliament, on Saturday criticized a resolution passed by the European Parliament regarding Egypt's treatment of gay men, Agence France-Presse reports. On April 10 the European Parliament called on Egypt to end its persecution of gay men following the sentencing last month of 21 of them to terms of forced labor on "debauchery" charges. In a protest letter Srour said the resolution is "an interference in the internal affairs" of Egypt. He added that the text contains "arbitrary prejudices" and that Egyptian law "does not intervene, in any form, in the private life of the people." Egyptian law does not specifically outlaw homosexuality, but it does allow the government to punish its citizens for breaking Islamic-inspired morality codes.