Fridae

Egypt has charged the 52 predominantly gay men detained last May following a police raid on a nightclub with sodomy and religious crimes, an Egyptian state prosecutor said last week.

"The cases of the 52 men have been transferred to a state security court in connection with charges of abusing religion to spread extremist ideas verbally and in writing... and engaging in sodomy," according to Prosecutor General Maher Abdel Wahid in a Data Lounge report.

The defendants were also charged with "distorting the Koran, causing offense to monotheistic faiths, immoral practices and praying in a manner which contradicts proper practice," he added.

Amnesty International said they are "gravely concerned" over the detention of the men and believe all of the men are being held solely on the grounds of their sexual orientation, according to a statement released earlier this month.