Wearers or sellers of LGBTQ rainbow watches from the Swiss manufacturer Swatch now face three years in prison in Malaysia, the Malaysian government decided on Thursday ahead of a by-election test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
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The LGBTQ community faces discrimination in this Muslim-majority country, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by law enforcement and corporal punishment.
Anyone who “manufactures, imports, produces (…) or has in their possession” such products now risks imprisonment for up to three years, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry. Anyone carrying or distributing it also faces a fine of the equivalent of $4,375 (€3,800).
“The Malaysian government is committed to preventing the dissemination of material that offends or may offend morality,” the ministry added.
In May, Swatch stores in 11 malls across the country, including in the capital Kuala Lumpur, were raided by Interior Ministry police officers.
On condition of anonymity, an Interior Ministry official told AFP that 172 watches worth $14,000 had been seized. He justified these confiscations with the fact that the confiscated watches bore the letters “LGBT” and the six color symbols of this community instead of the seven colors of the rainbow.
The manufacturer has sued Malaysia, saying its colorful watches are “simply a fun and joyful expression of peace and love”.
The announcement comes ahead of Saturday’s six-state elections, which should serve as a barometer for Anwar Ibrahim’s government in the face of strong opposition from Muslim parties who accuse the power of failing to adequately protect Islam’s values.