A series of leaked videos of prominent men engaging in same-sex relations has led to a widespread homophobic backlash in the Maldives, and real danger for the men involved.
While it markets itself as an idyllic honeymoon destination for gay couples, the island country in the north-central Indian Ocean does not extend the same acceptance towards LGBTQ residents. Homosexuality there is still illegal, with penalties that can include years in prison and lashings.
The videos were recorded by M.D. Alamgiri, who according to Vice is a trafficked Bangladeshi sex worker.
Related: Off limits: 15 most unwelcoming countries for LGBTQ travelers
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Alamgiri is accused of filming his encounters with high-ranking, closeted Maldivian officials and blackmailing them with the footage. “All Maldivian citizens, please forgive me,” he said in a recent video uploaded to Facebook.
Beginning in June, gay sex videos featuring Alamgiri with a police officer, a former journalist, and the brother of a former Maldivian president have all circulated on local social media. Many online are publicly calling for their arrest.
Politician Ahmed Shiyam is also using the scandal to demand monkeypox contact tracing for Alamgiri and all of his clients. One suspected case in the country was reported in July, but the results ended up being negative.
The official’s campaign is pure theater and not backed up by science. Since no positive case has emerged, the only thing contact tracing might accomplish is outing more men in a deeply homophobic society.
Related: Monkeypox: New York City reports “steep decline” in new cases
Shiyam himself has half-admitted as much. “We want the government, especially the investigating authorities to look into this case closely because aside from concerns about monkeypox, we are a 100 percent Muslim country and these kind of acts are not allowed. They are haraam (forbidden),” he said.
“This politician who is calling for it is doing it without evidence. This politician is doing it to jump on to a global trend to use the rhetoric of homophobia surrounding monkeypox and the outbreaks so far this summer to further drive stigma and create an even more stigmatizing narrative about this case,” Kyle Knight, a senior health and LGBTQ rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Vice.
38 men have already been outed from the videos and are currently under police investigation. Many have have their passports seized and lost their jobs as a result.
Alamgiri remains in police custody.
humble charlie
I’m shocked! Shocked to hear there are gay Muslims!!
Alamgirl must want to commit suicide but doesn’t have the nerve to do it himself.
Diplomat
I think it’s time we addressed the elephant of the world swept under the carpet in a fashion never seen before, it’s called religious Corruption of humanity. Gawd’s evil march on human sexuality is the abomination of the universe. It’s time this monster be called out and squashed. To bits.
Kathukid
I hate to tell you this, but Christians in this country share the same views of LGBTQ people as Muslim countries. Possibly worse now that we are a political football. Fundamentalist religions (cults) are the bane of civilization.
Kathukid
I totally agree. Religion began when the first con-man met the first fool. It has been used to control behavior and thought for thousands of years. Critical thinking and questioning are discouraged. Great evil has been wrought in the name of religion. The only difference between a cult and religion are the number of members. Imagine how humanity might have advanced without religion holding us back from questioning and critical thinking. We might already have flown to the stars.
Leo
Amen to that. Elect more atheists. Free the world.
CatholicXXX
You had me at gay sex, but lost me at muslim.
Muslims are such vile people. Full of the most extreme hypocrites.
wiggie
and catholics are not?????
Mr. Stadnick
Why do you think it is okay to paint with such a wide brush? I suppose you do know how bigoted a troll you are and it is attention you are craving or you are just hateful.
Kathukid
I hate to tell you this, but Christians in this country share the same views of LGBTQ people as Muslim countries. Possibly worse now that we are a political football. Fundamentalist religions (cults) are the bane of civilization.
Georgeiv2
Like Christians you mean ?
dougie
Bigots are such vile people.
Kangol2
It seems everyone skipped right past the part about the sex trafficking; Alamgiri was in essence taking revenge on these men for what is an international crime and one that probably would not have led to any punishment for the powerful men involved, but rather serious prison time or even death for Alamgiri. The politician trying to out closeted gay men could easily fit right into the US RepubliQan Party, but all of these closeted men abusing a sex-trafficked non-citizen definitely have something to answer for.
DavidJRTodd
I hope the men in danger are given asylum in a safe place lkk I’me Australia
CityguyUSA
WTF? The guy sucking their dicks is apologizing for them sticking their Muslim weinies in him for pleasure. Seems a bit backwards.
Prior to the Crusades pushing the gospel in the Middle East it was acceptable for men to have sex with other men. Muslim men go about with other men all day long in the Middle East with penalties that are outrageously homophobic. That wouldn’t be acceptable behavior in a “Christian” nation. More bullshit religous dogma.