Suhail al-Jameel is a gay social media star from Saudi Arabia with over 170,000 Twitter followers. He regularly posts make-up tutorials, fashion advice, and dance videos to his various social media platforms.
But the 23-year-old says he’s currently facing up to three years in prison after he uploaded a picture of himself on social media earlier this month dressed in a pair of leopard-print shorts.
Miss the sun ? pic.twitter.com/Tagzs6inR3
— ???? ?????? ???? (@suhail_y_y) October 6, 2019
Yesterday, al-Jameel announced on Snapchat that authorities had just charged him with sharing nudity online, after initially arresting him on October 6 for wearing the shorts at the beach.
In a follow up tweet, he expressed his outrage over the situation.
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“In 2019 LGBTQ are not welcome in Saudi Arabia, you must live in secret and can’t live in peace,” he tweeted. “You want tourism but you won’t give us freedoms.”
“The police [have changed] my charges to electronic crimes, taking photos of nudity. How am I nude if I am wearing shorts on a hot beach?”
#FREESUHAIL #GAYLIVESMATTER #GAYRIGHTS #RiyadhSeason #lgbtqrights #LGBTQFREEDOM @NICKIMINAJ @ladygaga @Madonna @theweeknd @aliciakeys @rihanna @samsmith @LGBTQarabic @LGBTRightsActiv @LGBTFreetobe @nytimes @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/R6yqz2dB9d
— ???? ?????? ???? (@suhail_y_y) October 13, 2019
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and the country offers not rights or protections for queer people. The punishment for being LGBTQ, which is widely seen as immoral, ranges from fines to public whippings, chemical castrations, and even death.
Related: Saudi Prince Accused Of Forcing Maids To Watch As He Was “Stroked” By Young Male Aide
Cam
Why does the headline say he is wearing “Short Shorts”? In the picture it looks like a fairly normal baggy bathing suit by western standards. Don’t just reprint what the Saudi Authorities say.
That said, this is the country that is supposedly our ally. Arresting people for wearing shorts, arresting or killing LGBT people.
Vince
This kid is obviously being harassed for being online and gay. No way that’s anything near nude.
Can’t believe were allies with this human rights abusing shit hole country.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I am wishing he had “short shorts” he has a nice butt.
:-p
balttymore
I mean it sucks, but know your audience….It’s not like he lives in the most liberal place…Get out of your country or tone it down a bit
TheMarc
…Seriously??? WTF???!!! “Tone it down a bit”??!! Of course, he realizes the danger. And so did so many LGBT activists in the US in the decades leading up marriage equality and, hopefully, federal LGBT inclusive anti-discrimination laws/judgments. And I enjoy a MUCH better (not perfect) life because they dared to not “tone it down a bit.” And if you live in a country in the Western world or even some countries outside of it; you enjoy a better life because of people like this. So STFU.
GayEGO
It is amazing to see there are still countries that are behind the times, living back in the old days.
Kangol2
“Behind the times”? That’s quite a euphemism.
They kill openly gay people in Saudi Arabia. I mean, why doesn’t anyone grasp that? It’s not like Saudi Arabia hides it!