Image: Vice.com Gender Spectrum Collection
Aabdar’s Struggle for Freedom After Imprisonment
Aabdar is an Egyptian trans man in his late 30s with an entrepreneurial spirit; he ran a street barbecue stand and raised his own chickens. However, he mistakenly believed his anonymity was secure and made anti-government posts on Facebook, leading to his arrest and an 18-month prison sentence.
Upon release, under pressure to stop living as a trans person, he sought help from Trans Rescue. Given concerns that authorities might target his elderly mother to coerce him, we successfully facilitated their extraction to Kenya. Once the police appeared to have “forgotten” him, we assisted his mother in returning to Egypt due to her declining health.
The Egyptians: A Journey of Resistance and Resilience
Baan, a 24-year-old Egyptian trans woman, was accosted at home by two men hired by her father. She managed to escape at a traffic light but could not return home. Seeking refuge, she stayed with a gay friend, Hussein, who sheltered her until her father’s hired goons found her.
While out for groceries, Baan returned to find a police car outside Hussein’s building. She fled but, lacking resources, reached out to another friend, an older trans woman named Aadila. Tragically, Hussein was later detained by police and is now believed dead.
Days later, hired goons abducted Aadila, demanding Baan’s location. She deceived them but suffered threats and was forced to withdraw her savings. Despite this, she managed to recover her phone and contact Baan, prompting both women to go on the run.
For about two months, Trans Rescue housed them in makeshift hotels while planning their escape to Kenya under the guise of visiting former teachers. Aadila boarded the plane, but Baan was stopped and returned to hiding, facing extortion and threats from Jihadis.
Chams’ Quest for Identity and Opportunity
Chams is a trans man in his early 20s with a natural talent for mechanics and electronics. Unfortunately, living in a sexist culture, where he was perceived as “a girl,” he had little opportunity to pursue his passion while trapped under his father’s roof. Trans Rescue helped him escape, allowing him to live in an apartment under a false identity for six months.
With our support, he attempted to flee to Albania via Dubai, but was denied boarding in Dubai. Faced with the threat of arrest upon returning to Egypt, we redirected him to Kenya, where he joined others in our safe haven in Nakuru.
Douglas: A Harrowing Escape from Captivity
Douglas, a 20-year-old trans man with an American mother and an Egyptian father, was essentially imprisoned in Egypt. With our help, he crafted an escape plan involving a treacherous journey across the desert.
When his father was distracted, Douglas claimed he was heading to a local recreation center and instead ventured into the Sahara. We stayed in contact, guiding him through the oppressive heat until he reached safety.
Once at a nearby shopping center, an agent assisted him in accessing emergency funds, and a local shopkeeper arranged for his ride to the airport, where a ticket to Amsterdam awaited him. However, airport security denied him passage without his American passport.
In a race against time, Jenny, one of our directors, traveled to Amsterdam to retrieve him. After spending the night in our CEO’s apartment, he is now seeking a permanent solution. We are grateful to the American Embassy in Cairo and our dedicated agents for their invaluable assistance throughout this operation.