Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 11:46:59 EST
From: slong@osiris.elte.hu

	On the night of October 14, three members of the newly-formed 
Gay Albania Society (Shoqata Gay Albania) were picked up by police in Tirana, 
Albania.  They were beaten severely for several hours by the police,
who demanded that they reveal the names of the president and other
members of the group.  One person had his leg broken during the
torture sessions.
	Because one person did in fact name names, police were able
to pick up other gay men at their homes.  Among these was the presiden
t of the group.  In interrogation sessions, these persons were warned
that they belonged to an illegal organization (because homosexuality
remains illegal in Albania, Shoqata Gay Albania has not been able
to register formally).  They were also accused of having "foreign 
contacts."  Members of the group were even given reason to believe
that they might be charged with "defaming Albania abroad," or even
with espionage.
	One member, who admitted his homosexuality, is facing criminal
charges under Albania's law against homosexuality.  Others have been
released but are subject to being re-summoned for further interrogation
and investigation.
	In the meantime, a proposal to reduce the punishment for 
homosexuality from 10 to 3 years' imprisonment is before the Albanian
parliament and may be voted on within a week.  This proposal would
retain the criminalization of homosexuality (identified as "pederasty," an 
all-purpose term which in Albanian legal usage does not imply age difference
between the partners) and would violate the norms and standards of the
Council of Europe as well as other international organizations.
	Please contact Albanian officials to protest the mistreatment
of gay men in Albania.  Urge the full and immediate decriminalization 
of consensual homosexual acts between adults, to bring Albanian law
into line with European standards.  Stress that the Council of Europe
will require such decriminalization as a condition of Albania's
admission--a condition it has already imposed on Romania, the Baltic
States, and other potential members.  Stress too that the European
Court of Human Rights has in three cases ruled that laws criminalizing
consensual, adult homosexual behavior violates European standards.
	Contact:
	Mr. Sali Berisha
	President of the Republic of Albania
	Fax no.: 355-42-33761 OR 355-42-28454

	Mr. Aleksander Meksi
	Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania
	Fax no.: 355-42-34818

	Mr. Pjeter Arbnori
	President of the Parliament of Albania

	Mr. Halit Shamata
	President of the Law Commission
	Parliament of Albania
	
	Mr. Eduard Selami
	Leader, Democratic Party
	Parliament of Albania

	Mr. Ali Spahia
	Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party
	Parliament of Albania

	Mr. Marash Ibraj
	Member of Parliament

	Mr. Servet Pellumbi
	Deputy Leader, Socialist Party
	Parliament of Albania
	
	Mr. Teodor Laco
	Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democratic Party
	Parliament of Albania

	All the above can be contacted at the Albanian Parliament
	FAX NO.  355-42-27949 OR 355-42-28314

For further information contact Scott Long AT tel. 36-1-186-1940; FAX
36-1-112-4982; e-mail slong@osiris.elte.hu