Following Amnesty International’s criticism of Kuwait’s consideration of proposals to “detect” and ban homosexual or trans people from entering and working in the Gulf states, a number of the country’s politicians have in turn slammed the human rights group for interfering in its affairs, the Kuwait Times reports.
On Oct 11, Amnesty International (AI) issued a release, calling Kuwait’s consideration of medical tests “outrageous” and demanding that the proposal be “rejected out of hand.”
AI’s Middle East and North Africa director says the measure, if approved, would only increase the significant level of discrimination already faced by people because of their “real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“This sort of differential treatment constitutes a clear violation of the principle of non-discrimination, recognized in numerous international human rights treaties to which Kuwait is a state party,” Philip Luther says.
In response to the criticism, MP Abdurrahman Al-Jeeran says the decision to bar the entry of homosexuals is “sovereign,” adding that AI “has no right to interfere” and should focus its attention on “the noble goals it was established for and put aside defending deviants and human garbage,” the Kuwaiti Times says.
Another MP, Mohammad Al-Jabri, also expressed his “regret”about AI’s “shameless demands” when it should be “protecting freedom and human rights.”
The measure is set to be discussed in Oman on Nov 11, AI says in the release.
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