Kuwait has sentenced a transgender man to two years in prison for “imitating the opposite sex,” according to the human rights NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW), which on Thursday demanded the release of officials in the conservative Gulf country.
The court fined the 40-year-old Maha al-Mudiri 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars (2,850 euros) for misusing telephone contacts as a ‘fake transgender person.’ Enjoy abuse.
“These laws violate the freedom of expression, privacy and non-discrimination guaranteed by the Kuwaiti constitution and international law,” he said, criticizing the NGO and calling on the authorities to “immediately release it and rescind the sentence”.
Stopped several times
His lawyer, Ms Ibdisam al-Nasi, told the AFP that Maha al-Mudairi had been arrested several times in the past for similar reasons. But he said the latest sentence, which includes “misuse” of the Internet, is “extremely severe” and an appeal hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31.
According to Mee al-Enasi, her client demanded to be transferred to a women’s prison after being placed in a transgender prison for men. “We have asked for a restraining order. We expect him to be released,” the prosecutor said.
Violation of fundamental rights
Rasha Yunus, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights researcher for HRW, said the Kuwaiti government’s surveillance and the subsequent arrests of Maha al-Mudayri were a “blatant violation” of his human rights.
Kuwait, as a rich oil state, enjoys a political transparency compared to its Gulf neighbors, but social conservatism is more significant.
Author: 7sur7.be – 7sur7.be
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