Cross-dressing man jailed for a month
Was held wearing a wig and heavy mascara
Manama: A cross-dressing Bahraini man has been sentenced to a month in jail.
The man was walking down a busy road wearing a wig, shorts and heavy mascara around his eyes when he was arrested by undercover policemen, according to the case file.
He was later charged with indecent behaviour and encouraging debauchery.
Homosexuality is banned in Bahrain, and lawmakers, wary of the growing number of gays in the country, have been pushing for a crackdown, including the adoption of tougher immigration measures and prompt deportations for foreigners.
On New Year's Eve 2010, nine Arab cross-dressers were arrested and charged with public debauchery.
Provocative
The police did not mention their nationalities, but said they were from different Arab countries and were arrested in a hotel disco in Manama.
The cross-dressers, heavily made-up and wearing provocative outfits, were soliciting revellers at the disco, according to the charges.
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