11 Aug 2023 at 15:43
Malaysia is banning Swatch rainbow watches. The maker wants to celebrate ‘unity and diversity’ with it, but the country sees the product as ‘a danger to Malaysian norms and interests’. Owners risk three years in prison or a fine of 4,000 euros.
The warning comes from the Ministry of the Interior. It prohibits all LGBTIQ+ references on Swatch watches, boxes, wrappers, accessories and other items. “Because they are or could be harmful to public morals,” the ministry said.
In May, Malaysian officials confiscated another 172 Swatch watches because they had the letters ‘LGBTQ’ on them. Swatch filed a lawsuit and demanded damages and the return of the watches.
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia, a country where the majority of the population is Muslim. There have been concerns about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community for some time. Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) see that conservative Islam is gaining more and more power in the country.
“Malaysia’s LGBTI community is being used as a political punching bag, with both the opposition and the government targeting the group,” explained HRW’s Phil Robertson. CNN.
“In this situation, wearing a watch could lead to jail time. The ban is ridiculous and telling that this comes right on the eve of the state election,” added Robertson.
.@Anwar Ibrahim throwing both Swatch & #LGBT persons in #Malaysia under the bus with this rights abusing, politically expedient ban on rainbow watches from 1 foreign company. Symbols & words matter, LGBT Rights are Human Rights! You should know better! @hrw https://t.co/rNeg94WU05 pic.twitter.com/rlWxltOWxR
— Phil Robertson (@Reaproy) August 10, 2023
Standing up for Islamic values
Protection of Islamic values is an important theme in those elections. Conservative groups in Malaysia are attacking the current government for doing far too little to protect Islam. The opposition parties argue that LGBTQ+ rights are a threat to Islamic values.
“We will be the party for the people of Malaysia,” opposition leader Muhyiddin Yassin promised to news agency last month Reuters. “They can trust us to fight for their interests and Islam.”
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim takes the criticism about protecting Islamic values to heart. For example, he said that LGBTQ+ rights will not be recognized by his government in the future either.
2023-08-11 13:43:22
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