<description>&lt;p&gt;A group of men known as the ‘Cairo 52’ were arrested in Egypt in May 2001. They were on board the Queen Boat, a floating gay nightclub on the River Nile.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Omer, not his real name, was arrested and imprisoned for habitual debauchery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There is no explicit law against homosexuality in Egypt and Omer was released early following the orders of US president at the time, George W Bush. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Omer speaks to Dan Hardoon about the arrest and its aftermath – in graphic detail.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This programme has been updated with the correct trial date.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(Photo: Some of the 'Cairo 52', dressed in white with their faces covered, being escorted by security into a court in Cairo. Credit: Marwan Naamani/Getty Images)&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In May 2001, 52 men were arrested in a gay nightclub floating on the River Nile

A group of men known as the ‘Cairo 52’ were arrested in Egypt in May 2001. They were on board the Queen Boat, a floating gay nightclub on the River Nile.Omer, not his real name, was arrested and imprisoned for habitual debauchery.There is no explicit law against homosexuality in Egypt and Omer was released early following the orders of US president at the time, George W Bush. Omer speaks to Dan Hardoon about the arrest and its aftermath – in graphic detail.This programme has been updated with the correct trial date.(Photo: Some of the 'Cairo 52', dressed in white with their faces covered, being escorted by security into a court in Cairo. Credit: Marwan Naamani/Getty Images)

Witness History

Egypt and the ‘Cairo 52’

Egypt and the ‘Cairo 52’

Description