“Belief in God cannot be an excuse for oppressing and terrorizing citizens,” proclaims this video from LGBT Rights UAE, an advocacy group in the United Arab Emirates. Words to live by, indeed.
As rough as things are in pockets of the U.S., being gay in the UAE can mean hormone treatments, flogging and even imprisonment. LGBT Rights UAE seeks to change that, and debuted this simple but moving whiteboard-illustration to launch a conversation.
In an open letter, members demand the government adhere to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and details atrocities committed against Muslim country’s LGBT community, like the hormone injections and “psychological therapies” given to six men arrested at a gay wedding in 2006.
The also indicate the situation affects gay travelers to the country’s tourist attractions:
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“On September 8th, 2008, two women were arrested for making out on a beach in Dubai. They were imprisoned for thirty days and then deported. In 2009, a homosexual couple from Toronto, Rocky Sharma and Stephen Macleod, were detained for their obvious homosexual tendencies and eventually arrested and held in separate prisons for thirty-nine days for possession of Celebrex, an over-the-counter medication. The real reason for their detainment was their apparent sexuality.”
Want to be part of the solution? Hit up LGBT Rights in the UAE on Facebook.
jeff4justice
Sad.
alfie
Where are all the so-called “moderate” muslims? Oh, they don’t care. Of course, if they’re too selfish to choose which Qur’anic verses to believe, they’ll be too selfish to care.
Tommysole
Simple solution……………Don’t travel to any muslim countries! It is not our fault that they are living in the past and use their religion to terrorize others.
Freddie27
Sad but not surprised to see Islamophobia popping up in the comments section. Remember how ALL Christians are homophobic, misogynistic creationists, how ALL gay men are effeminate, how ALL lesbians are butch, how ALL women are weak and submissive?
KARUADAM
@Tommysole: Muslim, and Christian, a like they have NO place in the USA with their religion; KILL THEM ALL!!.
breal
About 2 years ago I was living and working there. Making great money, traveling everywhere around the world, meeting nice people. Very naive of me. Not only are there major human rights abuses against workers from Asia and other parts of the world (basically slavery) but once they suspect or find out you are gay they black mail, imprison and deport you. After I disagreed with my boss he told me that I should be very careful. He said that people like me could end up in prison or even worse. I had never been so scared in my life. The UAE is run like that of the United Kingdom, circa 1400. They do what they want, when they want. All the money in the world couldn’t change that mentality.
Another interesting case, an Australian women visited Dubai on a work visa for a hotel company. She was in the bar one night having a couple of drinks. Some guys drugged her, raped her and she was sent to prison for 8 months.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-29/brisbane-rape-victim-sues-uae-luxury-hotel/2639032
To the gays traveling, do what I do now. I spend my money here in the US.
randallreynolds
What a waste Religion is.
Democritus
That’s their most moderate, Any other Muslim country would hang them. it’s 15th century in Muslim countries.