Persecution of Homosexuals (United Arab Emirates)

Note that this page may contain news regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, and transsexual people (LGBTT)

Authorities shut down nightclub for hosting a gay night featuring a transvestite DJ from the UK

The authorities in Dubai have shut down a nightclub for hosting a gay night featuring a transvestite DJ from Britain.

The Diamond Club was closed on the orders of Dubai's Crown Prince, General Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, after thousands of flyers alerted the authorities.

The closure demonstrates how the Gulf states still take a tough public stand against homosexuality.

Even by Dubai's racy standards, the Fluff Night at the Diamond nightclub was too much.

The organisers of Dubai's first public gay night sent out 2,500 flyers, inviting residents of the Gulf emirate to come out of the closet.

Dubai closes club after gay night
Frank Gardner, BBC News, April 1, 2001

Gays face forced medical treatment for their homosexuality

The United States condemns the arrest of a dozen same-sex couples in the United Arab Emirates and a statement by the Interior Ministry spokesman that they will be subjected to government-ordered hormone and psychological treatment. The arrest of these individuals is part of a string of recent group arrests of homosexuals in the UAE. We call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to immediately stop any ordered hormone and psychological treatment and to comply with the standards of international law.

Forced Medical Treatment of UAE Homosexuals
Sean McCormack, U.S. Department of State, November 28, 2005

Twenty-six men who were arrested at a "gay wedding" and charged with "homosexuality" are sentenced to five years each in prison

Twenty-six men arrested at what police in the United Arab Emirates called a "gay wedding" have been sentenced each to five years in prison.

The men were charged with homosexuality, a crime under Sharia law, although police acknowledged that non of the men were engaged in a sexual act when police raided the event.

Press reports from the capital say that the men did not deny being gay, although some of the accused reportedly identify as transgendered.

UAE sentences 26 gays to 5 years in prison
365Gay.com, February 11, 2006

Lesbian couple are sentenced to a month each in prison for kissing on a public beach

The Dubai Court of Appeal has found a lesbian couple guilty of kissing on a public beach.

The Appeal Court upheld the one-month jail sentence for the women, a 30-year-old Lebanese national and a 36-year-old Bulgarian who both pleaded not guilty.

The Dubai Public Prosecution charged the women with kissing, groping each other and indecent acts in public – the first case of its kind in the country. The couple will be deported after serving thier term.

Lesbian Couple Jailed for Kissing on Dubai Beach
James Hipps, Gay Agenda, September 2, 2008

Two homosexual men are sentenced to a year each in prison

DUBAI - An Emirati convicted of public indecency, cross dressing, insulting Islam and having homosexual consensual sex has had his jail sentence cut to one year from three, UAE daily the National reported on Wednesday.

The student, 22, identified as MN, was sentenced by Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance in March. He was arrested in July 2009 when travelling to Europe with his male partner, who has also been sentenced to a year in jail on a conviction for homosexuality.

MN's lawyer told Dubai Court of Appeals the method used to arrest his client and search his home were illegal, adding that police arrested the student with an undated warrant.

The newspaper reported that police found porn in the defendants's home. Prosecutors have also accused him of posing in a hijab while reading the Quran.

The Dubai Court of Appeals is expected to issue the reason behind its decision to cut the jail sentence in two days, the newspaper reported.

Emirati crossdresser's jail term slashed
Maktoob, July 21, 2010

“It was a private party... where people were behaving and not even engaging in any public display of affection", 30 people from the LGBT community arrested during a private ‘after’ party in a Dubai hotel

The United Arab Emirates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group has received reports that 30 people who are believed may be gay were arrested in private ‘after’ party last at 5 AM, last Friday (March 9) in the Shangri La Hotel, Dubai.

It was said the party was ambushed and all present were taken for questioning. Some of the men are reported to be from prominent Emirati families.

It is unclear at this point if the men are still in detention or have been freed, nor if any charges have been brought against them. Neither UAE LGBT nor Gay Middle East have not been able to verify the details and hotel staff were cagey when questioned about the incident by us.
. . .
“It was a private party in a private hired space where people were behaving and not even engaging in any public display of affection, so I can’t imagine why they got arrested,” said Adilah, a lesbian member of UAE LGBT to GME.
. . .
“My heart goes out to the boys, who must be feeling humiliated and in terror have sat or even still sitting in a cell. No one deserves to be incarcerated for being who they are, especially when it doesn’t hurt anyone around them.

“This was a private party, one amongst hundreds if not thousands taking place in the UAE on a Friday night. The boys risk huge consequences and discriminations in their future careers if their names get out, not to mention the lives of some of them are at risk if their families are conservatives, as it may lead to so called ‘honor killings’.”

Some 30 LGBT arrested from Dubai hotel, reports indicate
Dan Littauer, Bikya Masr, March 17, 2012

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