Kuwait Cracks Down On Trans Citizens

Fourteen cross-dressing Kuwaitis have been arrested under a recently enacted amendment.

The law, which went into effect last December, forbids people from “imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex”. Those who do not comply face at least one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

While the Kuwaiti government may think it’s fine, Human Rights Watch wants the world to take a closer look at the nation’s repression. Says HRW regional deputy director Joe Stork:

The wave of arrests in the past month shows exactly why Kuwait should repeal this repressive law. Kuwaiti authorities should immediately drop all charges against those arrested, and investigate charges of ill-treatment in detention.

We’re sure Kuwaiti officials couldn’t care less.