Crossdressers pose threat to society: MP

Manama : Foreign crossdressers working in beauty and massage parlours in the Kingdom are immoral and pose a threat to Bahraini society, said MP Jamal Dawood at the House of Representatives yesterday.

Speaking at the weekly meeting of the House of Representatives, the MP said that the so-called crossdressers working in beauty parlours could harm Bahraini families. 

The MP’s statements came after a request he submitted before the House, along with 14 other legislators, to have an open discussion with Government representatives about the efforts being made to combat immoral practices, such as sex trade. Dawood who previously submitted proposals to ban and deport the crossdressers and transgenders said before the council yesterday that immoral practices in the country aren’t limited to one form.

Tit-for-tat

This was in reply to MP Khalid Al Shaer’s intervention during last week’s meeting, when he stated “prostitution isn’t a phenomenon in Bahrain and there’s no need to waste MPs’ time discussing such matters while more important subjects require their attention”.

Al Shaer, who stressed earlier that such immoral practices are only individual misbehaviours, expressed his opposition to the discussion once again yesterday by requesting to refer the matter to the parliamentary panel to approve the MPs’ request to have the discussion.

“We are the men of this country and concerned about its future and reputation. We’re obliged to shed light on any matter that threatens the society. We appreciate the action by the authorities, especially Interior Ministry, to combat these phenomena. But we are facing inattention that may result in dangerous consequences in the society,” Dawood said in a reply.