(Ecofin Agency) - In Egypt, the court has condamned a TV presenter to 6 months in prison. Mona Iraqi was indeed found guilty of falsely accusing 26 men of homosexual debauchery.

In December 2014, after receiving the presenter’s claim about homosexual activity in a bath house in Cairo, the police raided the location and arrested 26 men who were almost nude. Among these were the facility owner and 4 employees.

Later, as no evidence of Mona Iraqi’s claim was found, some of the defendants filed a complaint against the presenter; after which she was prosecuted. Two trials were then opened against the TV presenter. One for defamation, the other for broadcasting images of the arrest on TV.

Faced by criticisms from gay rights activists, Mona Iraqi explained that her TV program aimed to denounce AIDS propagation and sexual traffic of men, but in no case stigmatize homosexuality.

In addition to the 6-months sentence, the young woman has been fined with EGP 1,000 ($125). Iraqi’s lawyer announced that her client appealed the court’s decision and that she would remain free until a final verdict was issued by the Court of appeal. However, she is to pay a bail to be released.