Last edited: March 21, 2005


Saudi Arabia Arrests 110 Gay Men

Gay.com U.K., March 18, 2005

By Ben Townley

SUMMARY: According to press reports, police in Saudi Arabia have arrested a group of presumably gay men, claiming they were celebrating a gay wedding in the city of Jeddah.

Police in Saudi Arabia have arrested a group of presumably gay men, claiming they were celebrating a gay wedding in the city of Jeddah.

According to press reports, 110 men were arrested at a party, with many fleeing as special-forces officers entered.

Although 80 detainees were released, according to the Guardian, 30 men are still being held and are likely to face charges.

The arrests follow a growing international awareness of the Saudi stance on homosexuality, which is still illegal in the country and punishable by jail terms or even death.

Although the government regularly makes arrests, an increasing number of accounts suggest that people bearing grudges are currently exploiting the taboo nature of sexual diversity.

Men can be arrested under suspicion of being gay, and neighbors often tip off police forces, reports suggest, leaving the system open to personal vendettas.

Earlier this week, two men were executed for murdering another man, who had reportedly threatened to reveal they were partners.

These latest arrests are reminiscent of similarly high-profile arrests in nearby Egypt, where homosexuality is also taboo.

Egypt’s government has also been accused of regularly rounding up gay men, most notably in the 2001 arrest of more than 50 people at a boat party.

Since then, the country has been under continuous attack by human rights groups, gay activists and celebrities.

Saudi Arabia is also known to regularly block gay Web sites such as gaymiddleeast.com and international gay sites, including Gay.com.


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