Six Egyptians were detained for four days by prosecutors in Cairo after being accused of inciting the practice of homosexuality and of acts that "violate decency”, a prosecution source told Ahram Online.
Police this week raided a flat in Cairo's Ramsis Square and arrested six homosexuals “in indecent positions;" they also seized alcoholic drinks, drugs and sexual stimulants, the source said.
Investigations carried out by the prosecution revealed that a number of young men who had raised suspicion used to frequently visit the flat, and had also raised the rainbow LGBT flag while attending a concert featuring Lebanese rock band Mashrou’ Leila last week, the source said.
Azbakiya prosecution office has ordered the detained defendants be examined by the forensic department to determine whether they have committed homosexual acts.
The prosecution’s investigations also determined that the men had made gestures in Ramsis Square to incite men to commit homosexual acts in exchange for money.
This accusation means the defendants could be tried for prostitution.
On Monday, police arrested another seven people who allegedly raised the rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBT pride, during the Mashrou’ Leila concert the previous week.
Pictures of fans raising the rainbow flag went viral on Egyptian social media and caused a storm of outrage on Egyptian television.
Wednesday's arrests bring the number of people detained in relation to the gig to 11.
While same-sex consensual homosexual conduct is not explicitly criminalised under Egyptian law, people accused of homosexual acts have been convicted on charges of “debauchery”, prostitution and violating public morals.
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