Helem sit-in to protest violation of human rights during a police raid in Dekwaneh || Newspapers (Arabic)

Helem organised last Tuesday a sit-in to protest the closure of Ghost nightclub in Dekwaneh on the night of April 21st.  The nightclub which visitors include trans and homosexuals was raided by the municipal police who arrested 5 Syrians without warrants and without following any due procedure.  The municipal police further humiliated the 5 persons they arrested by forcing them to undress and taking pictures of them to establish their gender identities.  The unfortunate event also coincided with media statements by the head of the Dekwaneh municipality Antoine Shakhtoura who prided in being homophobic and noted that he took this action to “safeguard Dekwaneh as a symbol of resistance”.

Helem issued a statement noting that the detainees were subjected to public humiliation as well as verbal and physical abuse whilst in custody of the police station in Dekwaneh.  This, according to Helem, is in clear violation of international human rights convention in addition to the fact that the arrests were made without regard to due process thus consisting a clear breach of the law.  Helem indicated that the examination of the detainees was carried out on no firm legal basis.

It is to be noted that this is not the first time that the human rights of trans and homosexuals are violated in Lebanon following the infamous anal exams which were carried out last year.
Source: Al-Safir 2 May 2013

For more information on the violations of the trans and homosexuals' rights please check the news published on the WEEPortal on 1/9/2012, entitled: CSOs pressure succeeded in halting the “tests of shame”