EU wants end to Czech practice of making 'gay' asylum seekers watch porn to check if they are aroused

The EU has told Czech Republic to stop its controversial practice of trying to determine whether asylum seekers are gay by showing them blue movies to gauge their 'sexual arousal' levels.

Those subjected to what Czechs referred to as the 'porno exam' were men claiming asylum on the grounds they would be in danger in their homelands due to their sexuality.

If any of the applicants got aroused at the sight of men and women having sex they were automatically denied asylum rights.

Asylum seekers had to watch both 'straight' and gay porn. Sensors were attached to the private parts and linked up to a computer to test whether they were stimulated or not

The men were shown both 'straight' and gay porno films by Czech officials. Sensors were attached to the private parts, linked up to a computer, to test whether they were stimulated or not.A Prague interior minister spokesman said the tests had been valuable in determining whether men were really gay or not but the EU said they were clearly a breach of the human rights charter of the bloc.

In a report on homosexual equality, the Agency for Fundamental Rights said 'phallometric testing was questionable, since it is dubious whether it reaches sufficiently clear conclusions'.

The Czech Republic is the only country in the EU that uses phallometric testing in order to distinguish true asylum seekers from those that might use claims of homosexuality and subsequent persecution back home as ruse to get into the country.

The Czech Interior Ministry is fighting back against the criticism, reportedly claiming the testing has been carried out in fewer than 10 cases and always in the presence of a medical specialist. 

Ministry spokesman Pavel Novak also claims the test was only used on unreliable applicants from nations such as Iran, where gays and lesbians are subject to prosecution.

He went on to note all those who passed the test had been granted asylum.

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By ALLAN HALL