Egypt’s LGBT community and allies targeted in proposed homophobic law

Egypt's crackdown on the LGBT community has intensified in recent months with authorities arresting several individuals based on their sexual orientation. 

According to media reports, Egyptian MP Riyad Abdel Sattar - along with 14 other lawmakers - have reportedly proposed a new anti-gay law in the country, gay social network Hornetapp reported. 

The draft law suggests that homosexuals receive a prison sentence of up to 5 years. It also suggests that LGBT allies are put in jail for a maximum of 3 years. 

While homosexuality is not explicitly illegal in Egypt, according to The Guardian, police routinely arrest individuals using decades-old prostitution and debauchery laws. 

But, it seems as though the country is seeking to make it explicitly illegal. 

The proposed draft law includes seven articles, detailing what is considered illegal in the country in terms of intimate relationships, including same-sex relationships. 

"Any person engaging in homosexuality in a public or private place should be subjected to punitive action that should be no less than one year and not exceeding three years in jail," the draft states, according to Al Araby.

Article 1 merely defines "homosexuality" as any sexual relationship between two people of the same gender. 

Article 2 states that those who engage in "perverted sexual relations" in public or private will be sentenced to jail for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 3 years. 

Repeat offenders will be sentenced to 5 years in prison. 

Article 3 states that individuals who "incite" homosexual relations, even if they don't engage in the act itself, will be sentenced to prison for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 3 years. 

Article 4 states that publicity and advertising for LGBT friendly parties or gatherings are "prohibited on visuals, audio and social media." Violators are subject to a prison sentence of 3 years. 

Under this article, organizers and attendees of an LGBT party or gathering are also subject to a 3-year prison sentence. In the case that the host is an entity, the legal representative will be imprisoned. Both the entity and venue will be shut down. 

Article 5 prohibits the carrying of any sign or symbol of solidarity with the LGBT community. The sale of such products is also illegal. Violators will be sentenced to prison for a minimum of 1 year, or a maximum of 3 years. 

Article 6 emphasizes that violators of any of the states articles will be monitored following their imprisonment for an equal amount of time.

Article 7 warns individuals that violators will be subject to public shaming - by publishing their story in at least 2 widespread daily journals.

In September, Egypt's Musicians syndicate said that it will ban Lebanese indie band Mashrou' Leila - whose lead singer Hamed Sinno is openly gay - from ever performing in the country again. 

This happened a few days after the band appeared on stage to a sold-out crowd of 35,000 people in Egypt's Cairo Festival City. 

A day later, seven people were arrested for raising rainbow flags - which authorities referred to as the "flag of homosexuals" - during the concert. 

The individuals were detained under charges of "promoting sexual deviancy" and "inciting immorality." 

Since then, at least 70 people have been arrested in the country as part of the intense on-going crackdown on the gay and transgender community. 

According to media reports from earlier this year, Egyptian police have even been targeting gay men through hookup apps like Grindr.

In 2001, police raided the Queen Boat - a floating disco on the Nile - which saw the arrest of 52 gay Egyptian men. 

The men were forced to undergo anal examinations to see if they had engaged in sexual intercourse. The incident drew widespread criticism from human rights groups at the time.