DUBAI: In a strange case that has captivated much of the United Arab Emirates over the past 24 hours, an Arab woman was cleared of “lesbianism” and “encouraging indecency,” The National newspaper reported. The woman had been charged after her husband took photos of her having sex with another woman. She said he forced her into the act. The woman's ex-husband had filed a lawsuit against her after he claimed she had committed adultery with another man. In that case, he revealed the photos and video, which he had posted of her online having sex, including one with another woman. According to The National report, the woman claimed her husband had forced her to get drunk, after which he took the photos and video and posted them online. In a previous hearing she said she was afraid of her husband. “He said I want to keep those photos for me so I can look at you,” she explained. The case highlights the ongoing battle over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the conservative Gulf country, where homosexuality is illegal and penalties can be stiff. One lesbian woman in the UAE, speaking to Bikyamasr.com on condition of anonymity, said that the case shows the need to “change a bunch of laws in this country.” She argued that “the court was wasting its time with a case that didn't even need to be heard. Was this woman stupid to get drunk, sure, but did she really do anything wrong? Not really.” At least not legally, the Emirati woman said. For her, a 27-year-old business owner in Dubai, the idea that having sex with another woman, or anyone for that matter, could find legal action is “ridiculous.” “It is just ridiculous that in today's world, we still spend so much time and money on battling who people want to have sex with. Really, it is mind boggling and only contributes to the fear and irrational sexual behaviors of some people,” she added. For other UAE women, the ongoing attacks against women are unacceptable. They point to the lax penalties and jail time for men who rape and sexually assault women in the country. “And now, we have to go through numerous courts just to make sure a woman doesn't go to jail or pay lots of money to a man who got her drunk and made her take photos naked and have sex with someone. That's crazy,” she added. “He should be put on trial for sexual violence and assault,” the woman added.
