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India: Transgenders thank government for setting up welfare board- www.hinduonnet.com/ 1/25/08 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
CHENNAI: Members of the transgender community on Thursday expressed their gratitude over the government?s move to start a separate welfare board for them, at the valedictory of the week-long celebration of ?Aravanigal Dhinam.?<br><br>
Expressing their happiness at the fulfilment of a long-pending demand, the transgenders put up banners and posters and applauded the move loudly. The programme was organised by Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI), Voluntary Health Services, in order to exhibit the talents of the transgenders and honour their involvement in spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS and other disease.
(PDF - 38 Kb) Document Date: 25 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 461)
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"¡No a la Inquisición en Marruecos!"- No to the Inquisition in Morocco-myrtus.typepad.com 1/19/08 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
In Defense of Moroccan Civil Liberties
Spanish newspaper El Pais reports that 150 intellectuals, politicians and journalists came together to sign a manifesto in defense of civil liberties in Morocco, saying "no to hatred". Among those who participated in this initiative was Abderrahim Ariri, the editor of the weekly Al Watan who received an 8 month prison sentence last year for publishing a classified military document, which disclosed information on a terrorist threat.
According to El Pais, what triggered this initiative was the popular reaction to the gay marriage that took place in Morocco last November. Six of the men who were present at this wedding were sentenced to prison for "sexual perversion".<br><br>
150 intelectuales, políticos y periodistas marroquíes piden más tolerancia con la homosexualidad
(PDF - 86 Kb) Document Date: 19 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 484)
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Crime and punishment-Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani urges death to gay people. Guardian.co.uk/commentisfree -Peter Thachel 4/4/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
On issues like democratic elections and sectarian violence, Sistani is not a fundamentalist. But fundamentalism is relative. When it comes to human rights, the Grand Ayatollah stands revealed as an Islamist hardliner. He endorses Sharia law, with all its barbaric punishments: execution for Muslims who turn away from their faith, for unchaste women and for gay people.
(PDF - 61 Kb) Document Date: 4 Apr 2006 (Downloads: 381)
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Gays jailed: 6 in Morocco, 3 in Cameroon- By GayNZ.com News Staff 1/17/08 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
An appeals court has upheld the convictions of six Moroccan men who prosecutors had claimed took part in a gay wedding, and a court in Cameroon has sentenced three men accused of being homosexuals to six months hard labour.
(PDF - 69 Kb) Document Date: 17 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 413)
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INDONESIA: Alleged brutal torture and sexual abuse by the Banda Raya police- Asian Human Rights Commission 2/28/07 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the alleged brutal torture and sexual abuse of Mr. Hartayo, an NGO worker, and his partner Bobby while in detention, by the Banda Raya police between 22-23 January 2007 in Banda Aceh. The alleged underlying motive behind the detention, torture and sexual abuse of the victims is because they are homosexuals. We were also informed that the police made the victims to sign a statement to the Village Head Chief not to indulge in "homosexual actions again". The AHRC is deeply concerned that such brutal violence against the victims was committed without hesitation not only by the civilian attackers but also by the police whose mandate is to protect the rights of people. The AHRC calls for your urgent intervention into this case so that those responsible can be brought to justice as soon as possible.
(PDF - 147 Kb) Document Date: 28 Feb 2007 (Downloads: 384)
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Indonesia: Gays & Sharia - Indonesiamatters.com 10/22/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Regional laws based on Islamic sharia and their effect on homosexuals.<br><br>
The Arus Pelangi (Rainbow Flag) recently launched a national campaign against what they say are a wave of ?homophobic? or anti-homosexual, regional laws based on Muslim sharia law. Widodo Budi Darmo, a 35-year-old director for Arus Pelangi, claims that homosexuals in Indonesia are regularly harassed by the police, often detained without charges and then released after a few days.
(PDF - 66 Kb) Document Date: 22 Oct 2006 (Downloads: 349)
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Indonesia: Militant Islam Produces Porn Connoisseurs- WayneBesen.com 4/18/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Militant Muslim fundamentalists are working overtime to destroy Indonesia, like they have so many other countries. They attacked the offices of Playboy, even though the Indonesian version of the magazine has no naughty pictures.<br><br>
A draft law before the Indonesian Parliament would impose Islamic strictures. It mandates large fines and jail terms for buying and distributing pornography, and makes homosexuality an offense. It also prohibits provocative dancing and requires women to cover pretty much every part of their bodies below the neck. It sounds very much like it was written by the Taliban.
(PDF - 264 Kb) Document Date: 18 Apr 2006 (Downloads: 465)
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MIDDLE EAST: Doors of tolerance begin to open for gay Muslims-www.irinnews.org/ 12/4/07 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
JOHANNESBURG, 4 December 2007 (IRIN) - Suhail Abu al-Sameed looked calm, yet he was shaking inside. He was seated before a row of ulama, distinguished Islamic scholars, from Afghanistan to Yemen at the International Consultation on Islam and HIV/AIDS, organised by the charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.<br><br>
The previous day, several of them had denounced homosexuality as un-Islamic and evil. Today, Abu al-Sameed had something to tell them. "As a gay Muslim, I feel unsafe, unloved and unrespected in this space," he said. "Were I to become HIV-positive, the first thing I would lose is my Muslim community. I couldn't come to you guys for support."
(PDF - 288 Kb) Document Date: 4 Dec 2007 (Downloads: 428)
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Morocco: Situation of lesbians; treatment by the authorities and society; state protection available; assistance or other organizations for the homosexual community in Morocco, including bars, restaurants, etc. UNHCR 6/3/04 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Legislation:<br><br>
Homosexuality is illegal in Morocco (France 17 Feb. 2004; Gay Rights Info 1 May 2004; Gay Times 17 Sept. 20; Sunday Telegraph 21 Mar. 2004) under section 489 of the Penal Code (Behind the Mask n.d.; ILGA 31 July 2000; Sodomy Laws 17 July 2002; UEEH 1999). Any person found guilty of this crime can receive a punishment ranging from 6 months to 3 years prison (Gay Times 17 Sept. 2002; Sunday Telegraph 21 Mar. 2004), as well as a fine of 120 to 1,000 dirhams (Behind the Mask n.d.; ILGA 31 July 2000; Sodomy Laws 17 July 2002; UEEH 1999). One source stated that this fine can even go as high as 1,200 dirhams (Gay Rights Info 1 May 2004), which is approximately CAN$182 (Bank of Canada 1 June 2004). Several sources indicated that this law applies to anyone who [translation] "commits a lewd or unnatural act with an adult of the same sex" (UEEH 1999; see also Behind the Mask n.d.; ILGA 31 July 2000; Sodomy Laws 17 July 2002). However, according to Gay Times, this provision is rarely enforced by the Moroccan authorities (17 Sept. 2002).
(PDF - 78 Kb) Document Date: 1 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 380)
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Police Abuse of Gays Continues in Chile- by Benjamin Witte 2/8/07 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Rolando JimenezMOVILH President Wants Police To Undergo Human Rights Training. A pair of incidents involving members of the Carabineros [Chilean Police] has brought renewed attention to an age-old problem in Chile: police abuse of the country?s gay population.
(PDF - 129 Kb) Document Date: 8 Feb 2007 (Downloads: 308)
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República Dominicana: Portadores VIH son discriminados en el sector laboral-HIV carries are discriminated against in the working sector- Tras La Verdad 1/24/08 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
(PDF - 207 Kb) Document Date: 1 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 486)
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The Perception of Male Prostitution in Morocco- By Safia Bousfiha, Monia Fdaïl, and Abdelhadi Mekoua (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
6/30/06 <br><br>
The purpose of this project was to determine what Moroccan people think of male
prostitution. Since it is hidden, the team wanted to provide some information in order to show
that it is a very alarming phenomenon. The literature review confirmed that male prostitution
exists in Morocco, and demonstrates that it is a big taboo that it is worth being fought.
Surveys were distributed randomly in order to collect people?s perceptions and opinions
about the issue. The surveyed population was divided into two sub-samples, thirty AUI
students and thirty outsiders. The difference between these two sub-samples helped the team
to compare the perceptions of highly educated people with ones of ordinary Moroccans who
are statistically less educated than AUI students. The interviews were conducted to provide
the team with the physical and psychological and social effects of male prostitution on male
sex workers. The results illustrate people?s perceptions and demonstrate that they are quite
inaccurate.
(PDF - 211 Kb) Document Date: 29 Jun 2006 (Downloads: 444)
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Turkey: transsexuals take to the stage to defend their rights- AFP 1/22/08 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
ANKARA (AFP) ? A unique play in an Ankara theatre ended with a standing ovation this week as the little-known actors -- transsexuals and gays raising their voice against discrimination -- fought back their tears on stage.<br><br>
Their play, "Pink And Grey," put the spotlight on the plight of transsexuals in mainly Muslim Turkey, in the latest initiative of a fledgling but increasingly vocal movement for rights by a community long ostracized and often harassed.
(PDF - 192 Kb) Document Date: 22 Jan 2008 (Downloads: 369)
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[Kabar-indonesia] JP: Changes needed to Islamic view on homosexuality- The Jakarta Post 9/2/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Homosexual experiences have been alive among recent Islamic societies,
including Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Syria and Pakistan (Schmitt and Sofer, 1992). Among
Muslims in Indonesia, homosexual experiences are common in pesantren, or
Islamic boarding schools. However, patriarchal views still dominate Islamic
teaching and its interpretations, including on homosexuality. Thus, Islamic
societies tend to maintain the construction of a pseudo socio-religious belief that
homosexuality is a major sin.
(PDF - 62 Kb) Document Date: 2 Sep 2006 (Downloads: 369)
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Antidiscrimination bill passes Czech Chamber of Deputies-12/19/05 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
A bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and other characteristics passed the Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies Dec. 7.
(PDF - 22 Kb) Document Date: 19 Dec 2005 (Downloads: 424)
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Brokeback desert- It is a pity Brokeback Mountain isn't showing in the Arab world, because it resembles current reality there. By Brian Whitaker 3/21/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
"Brokeback Mountain is a film which has nothing positive about it," said Dr Abdullah al-Amiri, a prominent member of parliament in Sharjah emirate. "The portrayal of the sexual behaviour of its main character [sic] is offensive to eastern societies, particularly Muslims and the Arabs, since Islam forbids abnormal behaviours like homosexuality ... The film will upset the people of this culture and tradition."
(PDF - 56 Kb) Document Date: 21 Mar 2006 (Downloads: 399)
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Communists Give Crucial Support to Czech Gay Bill-9/1/05 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
The Czech Republic has three time rejected legislation to give same-sex partners some legal recognition. Now the communist members of Parliament have thrown their support behind the bill and it is expected to pass before the end of the year.
(PDF - 22 Kb) Document Date: 1 Sep 2005 (Downloads: 675)
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Czech lower house passes partnership bill-Rex Wockner International News # 609 12/26/05 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
The Czech Republic's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, voted 86 to 54 in favor of a same-sex registered-partnership law Dec. 16
(PDF - 18 Kb) Document Date: 26 Dec 2005 (Downloads: 514)
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Czech PM supports partner bill-12/23/05 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said June 12 that he supports a proposed same-sex registered-partnership bill and wants his party's members in the Chamber of Deputies to vote for it.
(PDF - 19 Kb) Document Date: 23 Dec 2005 (Downloads: 474)
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Czech president vetoes partner bill-2/17/06 (Sexual Minorities & HIV Status)
President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic told reporters Thursday that he has vetoed a bill granting legal recognition of same-sex unions.
(PDF - 94 Kb) Document Date: 17 Feb 2006 (Downloads: 500)
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