17 Jailed In Dubai For “Homosexual Behavior”

Police in the rich, tourist destination Dubai have detained 17 foreign men for allegedly displaying “homosexual behavior”. The alleged offenses are reported to have taken place in malls and other various public places. Zuhair Horoun, a spokesman for the Dubai Police says all the suspects were either visiting or working in Dubai. He claims they were detained Wednesday, but he refrained from giving details about the so called “behavior” that landed them in jail. Dubai’s Gulf News reported today the police also detained “40 cross-dressing tourists.” The paper quotes Dubai’s police chief as saying the arrests are part of a campaign against “transvestites.” Despite the apparent Westernization of Dubai, public homosexual behavior is banned in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai, which is largely a Muslim city-state continues to remain hostile against homosexuality.