Egypt same-sex wedding 8 jailed for 'inciting debauchery'

An Cairo court has convicted eight men for "inciting debauchery" following their appearance in an alleged same-sex wedding party on a Nile boat, sentencing each to three years in prison.

The internet video shows two men exchanging rings and embracing among cheering friends. The eight were detained in September when a statement from the office of Egypt's chief prosecutor said the video clip was "shameful to God" and "offensive to public morals".

Egypt is a conservative, majority-Muslim country with a sizable minority of Christians. Homosexuality is a social taboo for both communities and only in recent years have fiction and movies included gay characters.

Consensual same-sex relations are not prohibited, but other laws have been used on gay men in recent years, including "debauchery" or "shameless public acts". Same-sex marriage is unheard of in Egypt.

The verdict on Saturday was received with protesting screams by relatives waiting outside the court. Some broke down and cried while others protested that medical examinations carried out by state doctors showed the defendants were not gay.

During the hearing, the eight buried their heads in their hands or hid their faces under baseball caps. They covered their faces when they were led out by police after the verdict.