Cairo: Egyptian prosecutors yesterday ordered the detention of the first woman in years suspected of involvement in promoting homosexuality in a high-profile case, legal sources said.

The woman, only identified as Sarah, was among seven young Egyptians arrested last week for raising the rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) community at a concert in Cairo.

The incident, a rare public display of homosexuality in Egypt, drew massive condemnations from clerics and the media, and prompted police raids against suspected homosexuals.

Yesterday, state security prosecutors ordered two suspects, including the woman and a man, jailed for 15 days pending further questioning, the sources said.

During investigations, the two denied raising the rainbow flag, but voiced their support for gay rights.

Meanwhile, police are hunting for 12 more suspects in the case. They all face charges of setting up an unlawful group, inciting debauchery, and violating public morals.

The suspects were spotted in footage retrieved from surveillance cameras of the concert.

The incident took place at a well-attended concert by the Lebanese rock band Mashrou Leila, at a music park in New Cairo, on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital. The band issued a statement denouncing what it called a “witch hunt”.

During the concert, attended by an estimated 30,000 people, a group of fans raised the rainbow flag.

In reaction, Egypt’s Music Syndicate announced its decision to ban the Lebanese band from performing in the country, accusing it of promoting homosexuality.

On Sunday, in a separate case, the trial of 17 men charged with homosexuality began in Cairo court. A verdict in this case is expected on October 29.

Homosexuality is unlawful and socially disapproved of in Egypt. Homosexuals can face two to seven years in prison if convicted.

There are no specific figures about the numbers of homosexuals in Egypt.

In recent years, several people have been arrested in different cases on suspicion of involvement in homosexual acts and received varying jail terms.