Gay rights in egypt

Penal Code 1937, Article 269 bis Indecency

“Whoever is found on a public road or a travelled and frequented place inciting the passersby with signals or words to commit adultery shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month. Anti-LGBT sentiment is prevalent in educational settings.

2023

The US Department of State report found incidents of domestic and street violence against LGBT people, including extortion attempts.

Law 10/1961 on the Combating of Prostitution, Article 9 Debauchery or Prostitution

“Punishment by imprisonment for a period not less than three months and not exceeding three years and a fine not less than 25 LE and not exceeding 300 LE in the Egyptian administration and not less than 250 Lira and not exceeding 3000 Lira in the Syrian administration or one of these two punishments applies in the following cases: (a) Whoever lets or offers in whatever fashion a residence or place run for the purpose of debauchery or prostitution, or for the purpose of housing one or more persons, if they are to his knowledge practicing debauchery or prostitution.

Since 2013, there has been a notable increase in actions against LGBT individuals, particularly following the 2017 Mashrou’ Leila concert, during which rainbow flags were flown by audience members. Remain vigilant and prioritize your safety and well-being as you explore new destinations. Police may create fake profiles to identify and arrest individuals, sometimes using minimal evidence like possession of condoms to levy “debauchery” charges.

Contemporary Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalize same-sex sexual acts, but the expression of ideas related to homosexuality may be prosecuted under public morality laws.

Law 10/1961 on the Combating of Prostitution, Article 9 Debauchery or Prostitution

Article 9 criminalises enabling acts of debauchery or prostitution, as well as the acts themselves, with a penalty of up to three years imprisonment and a fine.

Fifty cases resulted in convictions at first instance, however 42 resulted in acquittal on appeal.

2018

Bedayaa documented 71 cases of enforcement involving 76 people in 2018.

2017

The US Department of State Human Rights report stated that there was an increase in arrests and harassment of LGBT individuals, particularly after a rainbow flag was raised on September 22 at a concert by the rock band Mashrou Leila (see below).

The report also alleges that four men were sentenced to eight years imprisonment for debauchery in April, after being found guilty of attending parties, where “homosexual activity” was alleged to have occurred.

In December, 26 men were arrested in a bathhouse in downtown Cairo’s Ramses area at the behest of television host Mona al-Iraqi, who filmed the ensuing security raid.

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Last updated: 18 December 2025

Types of criminalisation

• Criminalises LGBT people
• Criminalises sexual activity between males

Summary

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Code 1937 and Law 10/1961, which criminalises acts of ‘indecency’, ‘scandalous acts’, and ‘debauchery’.

While homosexuality itself is not explicitly criminalized, other laws have been employed to prosecute LGBTQ individuals, often under the guise of “habits” or “morals” violations. The experiences and risks faced by LGBT tourists and local residents may differ. Keep in mind that Egyptian authorities have been known to use digital means and surveillance to target the LGBT community.

Remember that situations can change quickly, and information can become outdated.

“Medical tests” were ordered for those individuals arrested. The local advocacy group Bedayaa reports that, in reality, some are convicted to up to six years in prison.

However, it is crucial to remain discreet about one’s sexual orientation or gender identity, as situations can change quickly, and the onus is on the individual to avoid any behavior or actions that could be deemed immoral or scandalous.

The Economic Court concluded that any charge of “debauchery” under Article 25 transformed into an explicit charge of homosexuality.

2022

It is reported that in September, the Egyptian Education Ministry issued a directive which included promoting anti-LGBT awareness campaigns in schools to allegedly protect children from “deviant” sexual behaviours.

While caution is necessary, it is crucial to remember that there are positive and supportive people in every country, even in challenging environments like Egypt.

This has been consistently used against LGBTIQ+ people especially since 2013.