An organization representing Egypt's gay community, GayEgypt.com, is calling on tourists to boycott Egypt in protest against police and judicial abuse of homosexuals, which it says is commonplace throughout the country. The issue has recently caught the attention of the world media and international human rights groups because of the high profile case dubbed 'Queen Boat 52'. On 11 May, Cairo police conducted mass arrests of men allegedly involved in sex parties aboard a houseboat called the Queen Boat, moored in the Cairo islands. Five foreign nationals were arrested and later released, but 52 Egyptian men remained in custody for their alleged offense and stood trial earlier this month. (See Scoop 9 October and 30 July 01). About half the men were acquitted and the rest were given sentences of between two and five years' imprisonment for 'sexual practices contrary to Islam' and 'scorning religion'. Gay Egypt warns that the Queen Boat affair is not an isolated case but an example of the ongoing harassment and human rights abuse to which gays are subject in Egypt. French musician Jean Michel-Jarre has launched an international petition against the imprisonment and abuse of gay men in Egypt. To visit the Lonely Planet web site please click on www.lonelyplanet.com Latest news 22 May 2012: Cairo psychiatrist claims he can "cure" 70 to 75 per cent of gay teenagers.