HIV-linked arrests decried

Human Rights Watch criticized Egypt for eight arrests prompted by a man’s statement that he was HIV-positive, and said the detentions embodied “ignorance and injustice.”

The U.S.-based rights group said the men, all arrested since October, were given HIV tests without consent. Two were subjected to forensic tests to look for evidence of homosexual conduct, the group said.

Three men, who Human Rights Watch said had reportedly tested HIV-positive, were handcuffed to hospital beds and “only unchained for an hour each day.”

The Interior Ministry had no immediate comment.