We cannot bankroll human rights abuses

Michael Cashman

The campaign asks for the Egyptian Government to set free 23 men given prison sentences for the "habitual practice of debauchery" after they attended a boat party in Cairo.

The so-called Cairo 52 case has already attracted criticism from French President Jacques Chirac.

The petition is to be handed over to the Egyptian ambassador to the European Union on Tuesday.

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Mr Cashman, a Labour Euro MP, called on the EU to suspend a trade and aid agreement with Egypt if Cairo failed to pardon the men, or grant them an appeal in the case.

He described November's jailings, after a trial of 52 men, as a "flagrant example of persecution of homosexuals".

In a statement, he said: "If dialogue fails to achieve a resolution then we must cease aid and trade. We cannot bankroll human rights abuses.

"If we do nothing, then we condone these abuses of fundamental rights."

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And the former EastEnders actor threatened "a worldwide petition, rolling from country to country" if a satisfactory response was not received.

The men in the Cairo 52 case were tried by an Emergency State Security Court, after being arrested n a raid on the floating Queen Boat nightclub, known in Cairo as a popular gay venue.

The 23 men imprisoned received terms of between one and five years' hard labour, for charges including immoral behaviour and contempt of religion.

Homosexuality is not expressedly prohibited by law in Egypt - but is highly taboo.

In June 2000, Sir Elton John publicly accused Cardinal Thomas Winning, Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic, of ignorance over homosexuality.