'Gays are delinquent deviants who destroy humanity': Kuwait MPs attack Amnesty International for protecting LGBT community

Lawmakers suggest authorities should clamp down on charity for promoting tolerance after Gulf state said it would ban gay and transgender people from entering country.

(PA)

A number of Kuwaiti politicians have defended proposals to ban gay people from the Gulf states, saying Amnesty International should abandon their supporting for the LGBT community as they are “defending delinquents”

A public health director at the Kuwaiti health ministry proposed conducting medical tests in an attempt to "detect" gay and transgender people trying to enter the state earlier this month, a plan described as "outrageous" by Amnesty.

The human rights organisation called on authorities in Kuwait to “ensure people are not harassed and abused because of who they are” and urged for the repeal of laws that "criminalized acts between consenting adults."

Now the charity is facing a backlash from a number of Kuwait MPs accusing Amnesty of abusing its position and promoting un-Islamic values.

MP Abdul Rahman Al Jiran told daily paper Al Rai that "Amnesty International should take care of lofty and noble goals for which it was established, leave aside homosexuality and deviations and stop defending delinquents."

He added: "The organization should heed the annual rates of births outside the institution of marriage in Europe and abortions as well as the high rates of underage mothers and other moral crimes forbidden by all divine religions,” reported Gulf News.

MP Mohammad Al Jabri called on the Kuwati authorities to clamp down on Amnesty itself, ‘I condemn the brazen requests by an organization that introduces itself as a protector of freedoms and human rights,’ Al Jabri said.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should respond urgently to the so-called Amnesty International to highlight the noble Islamic principles, values and teachings in which the people of Kuwait believe and which reject the propagation of vice and debauchery in the community.”

Retired MP Mohammad Al Hayef accused Amnesty International of “interlacing honey with poison” and suggest that gay people “destroy humanity”

He told Al Rai “It should have reinforced the slogan of human rights and the defense of the oppressed, not confuse issue[s] and interlace honey with poison so that one of its officials dares to encourage behavior that is against the human nature and clashes with the teachings of all apostles. Deviant behavior and attitudes undermine and destroy humanity.”

Those under the age of 21 living in Kuwait found to be taking part in homosexual acts currently face prison sentences of up to ten years. Homosexual acts are banned in all GCC member countries, which include Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this month Oman suspended their newspaper The Week, alleging it had printed an article that was considered sympathetic towards homosexuals.

Homosexuality is illegal in 78 countries across the world and is still punishable by death in five countries, which include Iran and Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The Kuwait Times reported earlier on Wednesday that coffee shops which allow men and women to drink together "corrupt morals" according to Kuwaiti MPs.