Jim Beaux
10-03-2008, 10:39 PM
"Last December, Kuwait's parliament passed a law that criminalised
"imitating the appearance of the opposite sex."
The amendment states that "any person committing an indecent act in a
public place, or imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite
sex, shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one
year or a fine."
Subsequent roundups netted at least 16 suspects, New York-based Human
Rights Watch reported, adding that three detainees were beaten.
The only known targets of the new Kuwaiti law have been transgender people.
Kuwait does not allow transgender people to change their legal
identity to match the gender in which they live or to adapt their
physical appearance through gender reassignment surgery.
In September 2007 Al Arabiya reported a new government campaign to
"combat the growing phenomenon of gays and transsexuals" in Kuwait.
Mr. Mohammad Haiif, the spokesperson for the Parliamentary Study Group
on Social Vice, told reporters yesterday that " those suffering from
queerness are in need of medical treatment for hormonal imbalance, and
by doing so, we help them, and not harm them."
...
It is relatively liberal and democratic compared to its Muslim
neighbours. It has an elected national council and women gained the
right to vote in 2006."
The report comes about as a religious leader denies that he has issued a fatwa in support of SRS for TS, instead saying it was his opinion expressed in private letters.
In full at http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9027.html
"imitating the appearance of the opposite sex."
The amendment states that "any person committing an indecent act in a
public place, or imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite
sex, shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one
year or a fine."
Subsequent roundups netted at least 16 suspects, New York-based Human
Rights Watch reported, adding that three detainees were beaten.
The only known targets of the new Kuwaiti law have been transgender people.
Kuwait does not allow transgender people to change their legal
identity to match the gender in which they live or to adapt their
physical appearance through gender reassignment surgery.
In September 2007 Al Arabiya reported a new government campaign to
"combat the growing phenomenon of gays and transsexuals" in Kuwait.
Mr. Mohammad Haiif, the spokesperson for the Parliamentary Study Group
on Social Vice, told reporters yesterday that " those suffering from
queerness are in need of medical treatment for hormonal imbalance, and
by doing so, we help them, and not harm them."
...
It is relatively liberal and democratic compared to its Muslim
neighbours. It has an elected national council and women gained the
right to vote in 2006."
The report comes about as a religious leader denies that he has issued a fatwa in support of SRS for TS, instead saying it was his opinion expressed in private letters.
In full at http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9027.html