BAHRAIN: 127 Arrested In Gay Party Raid

Bahraini police have arrested 127 people in a raid on a "depraved and decadent gay party" attended by citizens of several Gulf-area nations. Gulf News reports:

Most of the gays were between 18 and 30 years old and one Lebanese and one Syrian were among those arrested following the police bust, Al Ayam daily reported on Friday. Neighbours, complaining about the late night noises emanating from the sports hall in the traditional fishing village, had alerted the police who sent a patrol to verify the claims at around 2.30am. An undercover agent paid the 20 dinar entrance fee and was allowed into the hall where he saw dozens of cross-dressers drinking and smoking shishas. More patrols were called in and 127 people were arrested in the police swoop, the daily said. Initial investigations have revealed that the gays were either Gulf nationals who came to Bahrain for the party or were living in Bahrain and flocked to the hall in Hidd. The organisers are being held separately.

Laws about homosexuality in Bahrain are murky and while private consensual acts are not explicitly criminalized, police have broad discretionary power to make arrests for acts they deem "immoral."