Syrian authorities release the group of men alleged of “gay parties”

Syrian authorities release the group of men alleged of “gay parties”

GME News 22.7.2010 Exclusive! Syrian authorities finally released more than 25 men that have been under police custody for over three months for attending/organising allegedly private gay parties. Strong threats were made to them explicitly by a secret police office: "We won't tolerate any future gay parties!" GME is investigating the circumstances of their release and the well-being of the men who are now returning to their homes and families. Sources in Damascus state that the Syria authorities were embarrassed with the attention given to this case in the British Media through GME’s Editor, hence the quick release without a trail. Whilst GME welcomes this development we feel that the men are not yet out of danger as their families were informed of their “offences”; this puts them in direct danger, and GME urges the Syrian police to take further steps to guarantee their safety, for example, they could publicly dismiss the allegations brought against them, or announcing they were acquitted from suspicious activities.