Jail term upheld for posing as women

Manama 

Two men, who had discused themselves as women, have had their imprisonment of one month upheld. The pair was caught attaching hair extensions and putting on Abayas (traditional clothing) in Hamad Town. They were also wearing make up when a police patrol spotted them. They claimed, however, that they usually stepped out in that appearance, refuting accusations of posing as women. 

“I was in the car with my friend (the second defendant) when we were heading to give his relative a ride to the village of Sadad. I was wearing make up for cosmetic purposes only, but not in a bid to look like a woman,” the first defendant told prosecutors earlier. 

However, he denied that he was wearing Abaya. But the claim was overturned by his co-defendant, who confirmed in his statement that they were putting on Abayas at the time of their arrest. He justified that he “wants to transform into a woman.” 

“I had a lot of relationships with women, but now I want to become a woman,” he said in his statement. 

They were accused earlier of inciting immoral activities. The High Criminal Court earlier sentenced them to one month behind bars and set their bail at BD100. They appealed the court ruling before the High Criminal Appeals Court, which rejected it.