67 Filipino Men Arrested at Gay Party in Saudi Arabia

A gay party celebrating the Philippines' independence day at a villa in Riyadh was the target of police, who arrested 67 men, some of whom were in drag:

"Alcohol, which is strictly banned, was found, while cross-dressing - 'imitating a woman' in legal language - is also against local law. Some of the men may also be charged with 'displaying homosexuality', though none is accused of homosexual acts, an offence which carries much heavier penalties in Saudi Arabia. The men were released pending formal charges. They face sentences of up to six months imprisonment and 60 lashes. The arrests were confirmed by the Philippines' vice-consul in Riyadh, Roussell Reyes. 'Some of those arrested were reportedly wearing gowns and wigs and drinking liquor,' he told a radio station. 'It seems that there was a party.'"

Similar arrests happened last year in June and July.

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Saudi Authorities Arrest Two for Alleged Homosexual Prostitution

Two Filipino workers were arrested in Riyadh for "suspicion of engaging in homosexual prostitution" on Saturday:

"Roussel R. Reyes, vice consul and third secretary who heads the Assistance to Nationals’ Section at the local Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, confirmed the report of the arrests on the alcohol charge, but not the charges involving homosexuality. 'A consular team of the Philippine Embassy will proceed on an assistance mission and visit the local prisons on Aug. 12 to find out the conditions of our workers, and probably we will know about the accusation of sodomy by that time.' The two men suspected of homosexual acts were in the Kingdom illegally and were making a living selling alcohol and engaging in gay prostitution, police said. Members of the Kingdom’s religious police are investigating contacts found on the men’s mobile phones."

Saudi Arabia appears to be stepping up arrests for homosexuality, which is illegal in the country. In late July, 55 were arrested at a "gay party" at a rest house near Qatif and 21 were arrested in a similar incident in the same area in June.

Police in Saudi Arabia Raid 'Gay Party' and Arrest 55

In June, I reported on a police raid in which 21 men were detained while at a party at a rst house in Qatif, in eastern Saudi Arabia. A similar incident happened this week:

"According to a report on the Arab satellite TV channel, al-Arabiya, two young men were allegedly found wearing women's make up and dancing on stage together. The detainees were all handcuffed when they were arrested. Saudi police said during their search they found drugs and alcohol and other items that are prohibited under the country's strict Sharia law. A similar police blitz was carried out more than a month ago at another farmhouse in the same area where 21 alleged homosexuals were arrested. Some of those arrested were Filipinos and Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia. Many of them were reportedly wearing women's clothes and makeup at the party which was organised to celebrate the birthday of one of the group's members. On that occasion, religious police found alcohol, clothing and makeup hidden inside."

Saudi Arabia Arrest Men for Alleged Homosexuality, Detain 21

"Religious police" arrested "scores" of men suspected of being gay at a party in the eastern part of the country, according to reports:

"Al-Medina daily says the Commission for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which employs the religious police, was told Friday of a large gathering of young men at a rest house in Qatif, in eastern Saudi Arabia. The paper says scores of men were initially arrested but only 21 remain in detention."

Saudi Woman Shot and Killed for Using Facebook

London's Telegraph reports that Facebook has become a refuge in Saudi Arabia for women who aren't allowed to leave home alone, as well as gays and lesbians unable to connect in public:

"Saudi preacher Ali al-Maliki has emerged as the leading critic of Facebook, claiming the network is corrupting the youth of the nation. 'Facebook is a door to lust and young women and men are spending more on their mobile phones and the Internet than they are spending on food,' he said...Critics also allege that Facebook is an avenue for the promotion of homosexual relations in Saudi Arabia. More than 6,500 people have signed the online petition in a bid to stop the conservative Muslim kingdom following Syria in banning access to the network from local internet servers."

Unfortunately, logging in can have deadly consequences:

"A young Saudi Arabian woman, from the country’s capital, Riyadh, was beaten and then viciously murdered by her own father after being caught using the social notworking site Facebook. The woman was apparently in the midst of an online conversation with a man she had met through the site when her father walked in on her. He beat her and then shot her at point blank range, according to an al-Arabiya website report."