Egypt's spy agency works with an openly pro-LGBTQ PR firm

As Egyptian authorities crack down on the nation's LGBTQ community, they are doing so while represented by an openly pro-LGBTQ public relations and lobbying firm.

Egypt's General Intelligence Directorate, a branch of the country's mukhabarat, initiated a $1.2 million contract with the global PR giant APCO in July, according to The Intercept. 

The deal was inked less than a month after the U.S. based firm took a strong stand in support of LGBTQ rights, with several of the company's executive writing essays to commemorate pride and discuss global discrimination facing the LGBTQ community.

"The corporate world is taking a stand," APCO Chief Executive Brad Staples wrote at the time.

"The next generation of young global citizens will ask a simple but difficult question: ‘Why did it take so long?’"

With the executives' comments, the firm released a video and hashtag – #WhyPrideMatters – specifically celebrating its queer employees.

Certainly, it is not unusual for foreign governments to solicit the help of Western PR firms to represent their interests. But it seems particularly odd that while Egypt's security forces arrest, detain, torture and prosecute homosexuals, the country's top intelligence service continues to be represented by such a staunchly pro-LGBTQ company.

Distancing itself from Egypt's well-documented oppression of its queer community, APCO told The Intercept  it has not "done any work involving LGBTQ issues."

"The APCO global community does not condone, nor would we try to justify, specific policies or actions like those directed at the LGBTQ community."

But a gay right's activist – only identified as Karim for his safety – see's APCO's actions "deeply disturbing."

“You are helping them to abuse us," Karim says, directing his comments at firms such as APCO.

In October, Egypt's ongoing harassment of LGBTQ individuals intensified following a concert by Lebanese indie band Mashrou' Leila. The popular Arab group has drawn controversy throughout the Arab world, as it's lead singer is openly gay and the group features LGBTQ themes in some of its songs.

During the band's Egypt concert, a group of fans raised a rainbow flag. This simple action led to their arrest followed by the rounding up of at least 70 other LGBTQ individuals. 

While some of these individuals were released in November, they were still fined and given suspended jail sentences. 

Homosexuality is not explicitly illegal in Egypt, according to The Guardian, but police routinely arrest individuals using decades-old prostitution and debauchery laws. In October, Egyptian MP Riyad Abdel Sattar - along with 14 other lawmakers - proposed a new anti-gay law in the country, gay social network Hornetapp reported. 

The draft law suggests that homosexuals receive a prison sentence of up to 5 years. It also suggests that LGBT allies be put in jail for a maximum of 3 years. 

Seven articles are included in the draft law, detailing what is considered illegal in the country in terms of intimate relationships, including same-sex relationships. 

"Any person engaging in homosexuality in a public or private place should be subjected to punitive action that should be no less than one year and not exceeding three years in jail," the draft states, according to Al Araby.

It was also revealed recently that Egyptian police have been using queer dating apps, such as Grindr, to crackdown on the LGBT community.

In response, Grindr and Hornet, two U.S. based gay dating apps, sent tips to Egyptian users in Arabic, warning them to take precautions while using the app. 

Grindr has advised users to communicate their whereabouts with friends before going on a date with someone they meet on the app. It also asked users to check if they have mutual friends with their potential date. 

Earlier this year, a 34-year-old Egyptian man, who identifies as gay but wished to remain anonymous, told StepFeed that he has to deny his sexual orientation "all the time."

"In certain classes it's becoming more acceptable. Upper classes or intellectuals," he said. However, he fears he could get arrested if his sexual identity is revealed. 

The man explained that many within the country's LGBTQ community are living in fear especially since "there are no places to seek protection."

Considering the daily insecurity and safety concerns faced by Egypt's LGBTQ community, APCO's willingness to represent the nation's intelligence agency appears at best, problematic.

Before APCO, the intelligence agency had worked with New York-based PR firm Weber Shandwick. However, as Egypt faced mounting criticism for its human rights abuses, specifically its crackdown on activists, journalists, and political dissidents, the PR firm chose to end its contract.

Until now, APCO seems less concerned about the optics. During the height of Egypt's LGBTQ crackdown in October, the firm contacted at least one prominent U.S. newspaper to highlight Egypt's "shared values with the United States," according to filings with the U.S. Justice Department.

As for Egypt, while it remains focused on oppressing its queer organizations and community at home, it appears to have no problem working with its pro-LGBTQ organizations abroad.