Bahrain Gays Arrested At Same-Sex Wedding

Bahrain has arrested 127 people, mainly gay men from the Gulf countries, after police raided a "depraved and decadent" party alleged to have been a same-sex wedding, Gulf News is reporting.

The revelers were hosting the Feb. 2 bash at a sports hall in Hidd, a conservative village on Muharraq Island in the country's north, which brought together gay men, mostly between 18 and 30 years old, from various Arabian Gulf nations.

Police reportedly responded to a complaint regard late-night noise emanating from the party at about 2:30 a.m. An undercover agent paid the 20 dinar entrance fee and was allowed into the hall where he saw dozens of cross-dressers.

"According to police sources some of the men were allegedly drunk, and others were described as wearing women's clothing and make up. The police are now said to be checking if any have a history of 'debauchery or sodomy," Gay NZ is reporting.

Among those reportedly arrested were one Lebanese man and one Syrian. Homosexuality is banned in Bahrain, like in the other five Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Though the nation is known to have more relaxed attitudes to social and sexual matters when compared to other Gulf states, foreigners have been arrested previously in relation to gay activities and are deported after serving prison terms.

Comments

[cla65]

07:02 PM on 02/09/2011

Sharia Law!!! Coming to a town near you. And no, those hate crime laws aren't going to help 1 bit!!! Gotta love those moderate religions don't you.

[Bejan Tenan]

02:07 PM on 02/09/2011

You probably know that, till well after World War II, "maknooth" dressed as women and with make-up danced often at wedding parties in Saudi Arabia, and no doubt in nearby countries, and only stopped when too many foreigners visiting the Kingdom seemed to be showing undue interest. These people were pretty well integrated into society, often as servants for women, who felt safe with them. Now these people go "underground" and are jailed when found out. Odd change in social circumstances... Some books written by especially Col. Harold Dickson, British Political Agent in Bahrain and Kuwait between the World Wars, are fascinating about all sorts of customs...

[Sable Lawson]

12:27 PM on 02/09/2011

It i ashamed how gay people are treated especially in the area of town I live they are truly hated and these people dont mind telling you that in your face. I was giving my friend a compliment on his jeans and 2 guys behind me said something really nasty.We abruptly left .

[exilist]

02:27 AM on 02/09/2011

21st Century right? Just checking.

[WuXiang]

02:18 AM on 02/09/2011

Just guessing, but I'd say the tip-off was that the shoes and purses were a perfect match.

[huffpostreader10000]

01:40 AM on 02/09/2011

Same-sex wedding? In Bahrain? Hats off to those 127 heroes...and heroines too apparently!

[WuXiang]

02:32 AM on 02/09/2011

I figure that's 42 weddings at three lipstick lesbians per butch and only one got away.

[WuXiang]

02:36 AM on 02/09/2011

Oooops! That's 32; that is, unless 41 got away. That's probably how the story got out. You know what they say: telegram, telephone or tellaqueen.

[brklynivn]

08:58 PM on 02/08/2011

Aren't they supposed to be hosting the next World Cup?

[WuXiang]

02:38 AM on 02/09/2011

Why certainly. Now that the word's out they have parties like that, who would want to miss it?

[Douglas Campbell]

03:10 AM on 02/09/2011

That's Qatar and not until 2018 and 2022.

[Mishal Zeera]

01:16 PM on 02/08/2011

As a Bahraini, Ive never seen those trees, those people or a rainbow flag in Bahrain. Nice grass!

[WuXiang]

02:07 AM on 02/09/2011

You're right; it looks more like a vegetarian picnic at a farmers market in New England.

[lisakclayton]

02:40 PM on 02/09/2011

lol you have to wonder who picks the inappropriate pictures for articles like this. They should have chosen that well-known pic of Michael Jackson in an abaya and niqaab ;)

[Mishal Zeera]

08:06 PM on 02/09/2011

Hahaha that would be so funny.

[GEagle90]

10:24 AM on 02/08/2011

I've been to Bahrain, and as much as a Muslim Kingdom can have somewhat relaxed laws, I'd hate to see what they will do to those arrested.

[WonderfulElena]

10:02 AM on 02/08/2011

i hate to state the obvious but you need to obey the laws of the country youre living in. if you dont like the laws, find another country

[Douglas Campbell]

05:01 PM on 02/08/2011

Yes, you should start a fund to assist homosexuals who want to leave anti-gay countries, starting with UGANDA. However, where will they go? Baing gay is not political amnesty.

You should think things out a little more before posting.

[David N Taiwan]

08:06 PM on 02/08/2011

And if my air conditioner stops working then I should move to another place?

If the ash tray in my car is full I should get a different car?

If straight people don't llike living in states where marriage is legal for gay people they should move to another state?

If gay people don't like living in states where they can't get married, they should move to another state?

Once laws are made they should never be changed? They become holy and untouchable?

[Douglas Campbell]

12:32 AM on 02/09/2011

Very good.

[WuXiang]

02:43 AM on 02/09/2011

A back-woods preacher once gave me a bible in order to convert me, he said. I ripped out the Old Testament and gave it back to him along with a Sears Catalog and some corn husks. It saved his marriage.

[rightstroke]

11:38 PM on 02/07/2011

another muslim dictatorship

[vascopyjama]

10:20 PM on 02/07/2011

Bahrain is another one of our outstanding allies if I'm not mistaken.

[rightstroke]

11:56 PM on 02/07/2011

they are not as crazy as the other 55 muslim dictatorships.. they help us to house our ships and try to control radical muslims...

[Mishal Zeera]

01:14 PM on 02/08/2011

Yes, that must mean they aren't crazy. Ships that bring unwelcome wars and unpopular alliances to the Middle East while fermenting inevitable radicalisation among the people.

[LMPE]

06:54 PM on 02/07/2011

Why would any LGBT person want to go to a country that criminalizes homosexuality?

[Douglas Campbell]

07:03 PM on 02/07/2011

They were already there and from neighboring countries. It's their culture. That's like saying "Why would any LGBT person want to stay in America a country that makes Gay Marriage illegal by Federal Law?"

[John E Priegnitz]

07:50 PM on 02/07/2011

I don't think the Americans throw people in jail for cross dressing or being gay anymore...

[jonnyquest]

12:16 AM on 02/08/2011

Cous cous.

[LMPE]

12:45 AM on 02/08/2011

Why would anyone want to be a racist?

[Douglas Campbell]

05:19 PM on 02/07/2011

Police do the same to same sex parties in private homes in Los Angeles.
We have to pay $500.00 fines, this was on the 4th of July.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

05:47 PM on 02/07/2011

I sure there's more to this story than you're telling......police would be raiding someone every hour if that were the case.

[Douglas Campbell]

07:01 PM on 02/07/2011

Yes, the neighbor who complained has a "Yes on Prop 8" bumper sticker and the police were not exactly "gay friendly".
What were you expecting exactly? Gay sex? Drugs? Neither were present, but even if the first one was, it's still not against the law.
So many people have no idea of the kind of bigotry gay people face even in America.

[Douglas Campbell]

08:40 PM on 02/07/2011

I'm sorry, I don't under5stand Dogwhistle. Please be more clear with your implications.

[rightstroke]

11:39 PM on 02/07/2011

doubt it...what is charge...

[Douglas Campbell]

12:38 AM on 02/08/2011

It wasn't my house, but I want to say something like "disturbing the peace" or something like that. The neighbor who complained had a "YES on PROP 8 " bumper sticker, on their door. The police were gay antagonistic and insinuated a lot of offensive stuff.

[FTracy3]

01:03 PM on 02/07/2011

Those people in the photo don't look like they're at a wedding and they don't like like they're in Bahrain. Other than that, great choice of photo!

[eric14]

02:09 PM on 02/07/2011

Looks like Rainbow Coalition group near Seattle or Gleneagles, Scotland (also note the un-Bahraini tree, and un-men in photo)

[Bill J4321]

03:26 PM on 02/07/2011

More likely, it's a photo of a group of heterosexuals waiting outside the wedding to beat the gay people with a rainbow flag.

That just seems to be more in keeping with reality...

[eric14]

03:40 PM on 02/07/2011

LOLOL