Bahrain jails young man for crossdressing in public

[News_Editor]

Bahrain jails young man for crossdressing in public

2012-04-05 17:48:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANAMA, BAHRAIN (BNO NEWS) -- A young Bahraini man was sentenced on Wednesday to one month in prison after being caught crossdressing in public by undercover police officers, officials said on Thursday.

Prosecutors said the young man, whose exact age and identity were not immediately released, was walking down Exhibition Road in the capital Manama wearing a wig, make-up, short pants and had heavy mascara around his eyes. Undercover police officers chased him and took him into custody.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Bahrain, but many in Bahrain view homosexuality and crossdressing as a sign of immorality. Laws designed to protect 'public morality' and 'public order' are vague, allowing police to arrest men and women deemed to be in violation of traditional morality.

The man sentenced on Wednesday had been charged with indecent behaviour and encouraging debauchery.

On New Year's Eve 2010, nine foreign crossdressers were arrested at a hotel disco in Manama and charged with public debauchery. And in late 2007, another foreigner wearing women's clothing was arrested also in Manama after a crowd of angry men surrounded his car.

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