Police reportedly banned rainbow flags at Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Cairo
The police also conviscated a child's crayons so they couldn't draw the Pride flag
By Steve Brown
Police reportedly searched for rainbow flags before allowing concertgoers to watch the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Cairo.
According to journalist Samer Al-Atrush, police stopped concertgoers and searched their bags for the ‘flag for the gays’ saying that it was not allowed.
Taking to Twitter, Al-Atrush said: “Entering Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at Cairo Pyramids.
“Police officer asks: ‘you have no flags?’ Asked what type of flags responds: ‘flag for the gays. Not allowed’.”
Entering Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at Cairo Pyramids. Police officer asks: “you have no flags?” Asked what type of flags responds: “flag for the gays. Not allowed.”
— Samer Al-Atrush (@SameralAtrush) March 15, 2019
Other Twitter users claimed the police also confiscated a child’s crayons to stop them drawing the rainbow flag.
This isn’t the first time that the Pride flag has caused an uproar at a concert in Egypt after a flag was unrolled at a gig of Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila back in 2017.
The flag caught the attention of religious leaders, politicians and the Egyptian media and 33 people were arrested on charges of ‘promoting sexual deviance’ and ‘debauchery’.
Egyptian law does not explicitly criminalise homosexuality, but it does have several provisions that criminalize any behaviour or the expression of any idea that is deemed to be immoral, scandalous or offensive to the teachings of a recognized religious leader.