The oppression of the LGBTQ+ community in the Middle East is not ending. In Saudi Arabia, authorities confiscated several rainbow-colored toys and clothing items from Ryad’s stores. Bows, skirts, hats, T-shirts and pencil cases are the main items removed from shops in the Saudi capital, and these are mainly items for children. This was reported by a service of state news channel Al Ekhbariy that aired yesterday. 15th June. The articles were withdrawn by Department of Commerce officials, one of whom stated that the rainbow objects “contradict Islamic beliefs and public morals and promote homosexuality by targeting the younger generations.”
Department of Commerce: “They invite you to detour”
The relevant ministry then relaunched the service, specifying that its employees “seize products containing symbols and signs that invite distraction and are contrary to common sense” and that the shops that sell them face penalties. In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is taboo, and according to the country’s government, Islamic law punishes same-sex relationships with death and flogging. In the country, it’s also illegal for men to “behave like women” and vice versa. In April, Saudi authorities asked Disney to trim the “LGBT references” from the Marvel Doctor Strange film In the Multiverse of Madness, but the company denied the request and the film was not shown in Saudi theaters.
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