Anti-gay arrest wave ongoing in Egypt

godfred akoto

October 3, 2017 12:43 PM

Rights group urge end to crackdown as Egypt arrests at least seven after a rainbow flag was waved at a concert of Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila

Amnesty International is reporting that 22 people have been arrested in Egypt as part of a crackdown on LGBT people.

Egypt is a conservative,muslim dominated country and several citizens were left scandalised by the actions at a rock concert in the capital last month when rainbow flags were raised.

The country’s Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadek ordered State Security prosecutors to look into an "incident" that "incited homosexuality".

According to the BBC, six men were charged on Sunday in connection with the flag-raising and went on trial alongside at least 10 others arrested last week.

A woman suspected of raising a rainbow flag at the concert has also been charged with "promoting sexual deviancy" and "habitual debauchery".

A 19-year-old man has also been convicted of “debauchery” and sentenced to six years in prison.

According to Amnesty International, some of the arrested suspects were subjected to anal inspections.

"Forced anal examinations are tantamount to torture - there is no scientific basis for such tests and they cannot be justified under any circumstances," said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty's North Africa campaigns director.

godfred akoto