Malaysia could possibly jail ‘LGBT’ Swatch watch owners for three years
2 min read
The interior ministry of Malaysia has said that people who own or sell rainbow-colored watches made by the Swiss company Swatch could get three years in jail. This is because Malaysia, which is mostly Muslim, is against symbols of LGBTQ+ people that it says could “harm morals.”
In Malaysia, being gay is against the law, and LGBTQ+ people face harassment.
In May, Malaysia’s interior ministry’s law enforcement unit raided Swatch shops in 11 shopping malls, including the capital, Kuala Lumpur, looking for watches with “LGBT elements.”
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that anyone who “prints, imports, produces, or has in his possession” such things could go to jail for up to three years. The ban notice says that anyone who wears or gives out these watches could be fined 20,000 Malaysian ringgit (£3,425).
In a statement, the ministry said, “The Malaysian government wants to stop the spread of things that are bad for morals or could be bad for morals.”
It said that the watches “may harm… the interests of the nation by promoting, supporting, and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement, which is not accepted by the general public.”
In May, a ministry official told Agence France-Presse that raids led to the seizure of 172 watches worth $14,000 (£10,960) because they had the letters “LGBTQ” on them and only six colours instead of the seven colours in a rainbow.
One of the most well-known LGBTQ images around the world is the six-color rainbow Pride flag.
The removal was based on the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984, which critics have called draconian. This is what the summons notice says.
In a lawsuit brought against the Malaysian government in June, Swatch said that the watches “did not promote any sexual activity but were just a fun and joyful way to show peace and love.”
Saturday’s elections in six Malaysian states will give a good idea of how the public feels about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government and the strong Malay-Muslim political parties that are against it.
The opposition has said that he is not doing enough to protect the Islamic principles of Malaysia. Anwar says that his government won’t support freedom for LGBTQ people.
You can buy us a coffee if you like our works:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itup
Reference: The Guardian Al Jazeera
