A Giza misdemeanour court sentenced on Sunday 11 men to terms of up to 12 years in prison over charges of “inciting debauchery” after they were arrested for allegedly committing homosexual acts, Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Three people were sentenced to 12 years in prison while the rest were given between three to nine years. 

The defendants, who were arrested at a rented apartment in Giza, denied the charges.

One of the defendants was convicted several years ago in another homosexuality-related case, according to investigators.

Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalised by Egyptian law, though prosecutors have often tried gay men under laws against “debauchery”, “immorality” or “contempt of religion.”