Eleven trans arrested in Kuwait
With six transgender women arrested only in the last two weeks and five still in prison awaiting trial, Kuwait continues with 'morality' campaigns that also target LGBT people
30 OCTOBER 2012 | BY DAN LITTAUERhttp://www.gaystarnews.com/article/eleven-trans-arrested-kuwait301012A police patrol in the neighbourhood of Salmiya, Kuwait City, stopped a car driven by a woman, upon interviewing her, the two police inspectors became 'suspicious' as her 'rough voice contradicted her feminine appearance', reported the daily Al-Rai on Sunday (28 October).
When questioned she claimed she forgot her identity card at home, but after the police applied 'pressure' officers found out that in fact the 'driver was a man'.
The car was then extensively searched police found women's underwear and bras.
The case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Kuwait.
Two weeks ago (15 October) five transgender women were also arrested and detained by Kuwait police in two separate incidents.
A transgender activist in Kuwait told Gay Star News: 'The situation here is getting worse by the day.
'To my knowledge there are now at least 11 transgender people detained in prison facing the same charges and waiting a trial, the other five are from previous arrests.'
'The authorities are using the article prohibiting "imitating the opposite sex" to violate our freedom of expression, and as a political weapon. So transgender people have to be in disguise all the time, we can't even leave home or walk among the society, we have to remain hidden for our safety and we're treated as criminals.'
