LONDON, May 17  –  “Human rights, gay rights! Stop the Saudi killers!” chanted 25 lesbian and gay activists outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London at lunchtime today.

The London protest was one of hundreds of protests that took place in more than 40 countries to mark the first International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

”Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most homophobic countries. Gay people are routinely arrested, jailed, tortured, flogged and sometimes executed,” said protest co-organiser Brett Lock of OutRage!

“We want EU and UN sanctions against the Saudi dictatorship.  King Fahd should be arrested, taken to the International Criminal Court, and tried on charges of torture and murder.  Britain and the EU should halt all trade with the murderous, homophobic Saudi tyranny,” he charged.

“In March, 105 men were arrested after allegedly attending a gay wedding.  Thirty-five have been sentenced to floggings. Some are being punished with up to 2000 lashes, which can be fatal.  All 105 men have been sentenced to a year’s jail, where they are likely to suffer torture and rape.

”Saudi Arabia’s unelected leaders enforce a fundamentalist version of Islam.  They impose the death penalty for homosexuality.  Several gay Muslims have been beheaded in recent years,” said Mr Lock.

His colleague, David Allison, also of OutRage!, expressed concern that Ken Livingstone has failed to back the International Day Against Homophobia.

”The Mayor of London failed to support the International Day Against Homophobia.  Repeated requests to Ken’s office were ignored.  In contrast, the Mayors of Paris, Berlin and many other cities are backing IDAHO.  Why isn’t Ken giving the gay community support on this very important day in the gay calendar”, queried Mr Allison?

”Despite terrorising gay people, and denying rights to women and religious minorities, Saudi Arabia’s fundamentalist regime enjoys friendly relations with the UK and the US. Tony Blair and George Bush sell weapons to the Saudi torturers and murderers.

”It is time the Saudi butchers were named, shamed and isolated,” urged Mr Allison.

The IDAHO protest at the Saudi Embassy was organised jointly by OutRage! and the Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association in association with the international committee of IDAHO.

Derek Lennard, chair of the Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association (GAHLA), coordinated the UK’s participation in IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia).

”This protest signals our condemnation of the brutal persecution of Saudi lesbians and gays,” said Mr Lennard.

■  Elsewhere in Europe, IDAHO organisers in the Netherlands organised a "kiss-in" on the spot in Leidseplein where Washington Blade executive editor Chris Crain was viciously attacked as he walked hand in hand with his boyfriend earlier this month. See Crain's 'blog' Looking Hate In The Face

Around 30 people took part in an Equality Walk in Sofia.  It was the first-ever such gathering in Bulgaria.

Josep Borrell, the President of the European Parliament, lent his weight to the aims of  IDAHO with the following message:

“As we are currently debating the Constitutional Treaty in many countries of the European Union, I wish today to recall one of the major principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights: the non-discrimination principle.

“Whatever their origin, nationality, social background, religion or sexual orientation, all citizens of the Union have the same rights.

“Today is a symbolic day as it is exactly 15 years since the General Assembly of the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. And while it may be true that homosexuality is freer today than in the past, discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation remains a serious problem experienced by millions of people all over the globe and within the Union.

“The European Parliament has always fought for equality and the defence of human rights and supports the campaign against homophobia in the context of the wider struggle for the defence of human rights, which is one of the fundamental values of the European Union.

It remains our duty, as an enlarged European Union, to continue the struggle against the moral discrimination and physical violence related to sexual orientation. Such injustices must be overcome in all countries by all means.”

LINKS

OutRage! website

17 May  2005