Beirut: Amid an anti-gay crackdown in Egypt since a rainbow flag was hoisted at a Cairo concert, gay dating apps are sending users tips on how to protect themselves from entrapment.

The flag was raised last month at a concert headlined by Mashrou' Leila, a Lebanese rock band whose singer is openly gay.

Anti-gay crackdown: Two people hold up a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo, Egypt. Credit:Facebook: Rainbow Egypt

It was a rare public show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the conservative Muslim country, and it was met with a swift zero-tolerance response.

Since then nearly 70 people have been arrested and more than 20 have been handed sentences ranging from six months to six years, according to Dalia Abdel Hameed of the rights group Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).