An Egyptian administrative court Tuesday (14 April) ruled that LGBTI foreigners can be deported and banned them from entering the country.

The case in question involved an allegedly gay Libyan man who the interior ministry barred from returning to the Muslim-majority country in 2008.

The unnamed graduate student appealed the decision in hope of continuing his studies at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport but the court ruled in favor of the ministry.

A court complaint described the man as gay but it is not clear what charges were leveled against him or whether he was convicted.

A judicial official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told reporters that the ministry has the right to ban LGBTI people to protect public interest and religious and social values.

Homosexuality is not explicitly banned in Egyptian law, but gay men are routinely prosecuted on charges of debauchery and public indecency.

Arrests of gay men have increased in dramatically in recent months, according to LGBTI activists.