Egypt's Coptic church organises conference to 'treat' homosexuality

The Coptic Church in Egypt has reportedly organised a conference offering ways to "treat" homosexuality.

St Mark's Orthodox Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, which represents Egypt's Copts, has organised a conference titled "Volcano of Homosexuality", aiming to increase awareness on how to achieve a "speedy recovery" from homosexuality through a number of lectures.

No definite date has been set by the cathedral for the conference, but it will include a workshop teaching church patrons how to carry out gay conversions, with the advice of a "homosexuality healing specialist".

The Coptic church has is against homosexuality, describing same-sex relationships as "immoral" and a "threat" to family stability.

Homosexuality is a taboo in Egypt among both Muslims and the Christian minority but is not explicitly prohibited.

Tensions rose among the LGBT community on Monday after authorities on Monday detained seven people for raising the rainbow flag at a Cairo concert by Lebanese indie band Mashrou' Leila, whose leader is openly gay, which now faces a ban in Egypt.

On Wednesday, an Egyptian lawmaker called on parliament to make "immorality" laws targeting homosexuals carry a prison sentence of ten years.

"What happened at the concert cannot be accepted by society. Declaring yourself as a homosexual is not a human right," MP Shadia Thabit said.

"How can they openly announce their sins? Don't talk to me about human rights they should go get lost far away from us," she said, adding that toughening the law would stop the "corruption" of society.