Last
month, a 30-year-old man was arrested by the religious police in Saudi
Arabia for using Facebook to pursue dates with other men, according to Gay Middle East.
The man, whose name is not being released, was apprehended on December
23rd and is being held by the police in Dammam, on the Persian Gulf,
where after what may be assumed to have been harsh interrogations by
local authorities he confessed to arranging "obscenity acts" with
members of his own sex.
Punishments for such acts in Saudi Arabia could include fines,
flogging, imprisonment, and death. The severity of punishments for
individual crimes are left to the discretion of Sunni religious
authorities, and vary widely depending upon the identity of the
offender. From GME: Conviction and severity of punishments depends on the social class,
religion and citizenship of the accused, whereby non-western migrant
workers receive usually harsher treatment than upper class Saudi
citizens.
Sami Hamwi, Syria Editor of Gay Middle East, and former Saudi
resident explains: “Native born Saudi citizens who are Suni or from the
Bedouin tribes in the country are often let off, while punishment are
severely executed against minorities like Shiites and or newly
naturalised citizens. Punishments regarding homosexuality are also held
against expatriates working in Saudi Arabia, especially those coming
from Asian, African and Arab countries. Dammam is a largely Shiite area
and if the 30 year old aforementioned man is a Shiite, he is likely to
be trailed and sentenced harshly.”
We are aware of the reports and seeking further information. The
UK opposes all discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) people in all circumstances. We are committed to
combating violence and discrimination against LGBT people as an
integral part of our international human rights work. We believe
that human rights are universal and that LGBT people should be free
to enjoy the rights and freedoms to which people of all nations
are entitled.
News of the arrest came as British PM David Cameron embarked on a
brief visit to Saudi Arabia. The British government, which in recent
months has explicitly tied the well-being of global LGBTs to its foreign
policy, was quick to voice concern for the incarcerated Saudi. Wrote a
"British Foreign and Commonwealth spokesperson" to GME:
What effect, if any, Cameron's visit may have on the incarcerated
Saudi is unknown. Because of the opacity of Saudi Arabia's religious
courts, the man's trial and punishment may be conducted in secret.
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Monday, January 16, 2012
MARKED: Saudi Man Arrested For Arranging Dates With Other Men!
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