A Kuwaiti minister has appeared to backtrack on a recent proposal to ban gay and transgender people from working in the region. According to Gulf News, Khalid Al Jarallah, the Kuwaiti foreign ministry undersecretary described it to local daily newspaper Al Rai as a ‘mere proposal,’ adding, ‘it may or may not be accepted. The debate will reflect the keen interest of the GCC countries in human rights taking into consideration the teachings of our religion and international agreements.’

Belgium’s foreign minister has already said that the European Union would take up the GCC decision to bar homosexual and transgender foreigners ‘because it is a matter that cannot be ignored since there is a form of discrimination.’

‘Belgium is a pioneer in protecting and reinforcing the fundamental rights of homosexuals, and therefore it cannot ignore any decision or law that fight this category or creates any form of discrimination against them on the basis of sexual orientations,’ he said.

Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther added that the proposal ‘will only further stigmatise people who already suffer extremely high levels of discrimination and abuse on the grounds of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.’

‘It is an affront to the fundamental human right to privacy and underscores the continuing persecution of individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.’

‘Instead of continuing to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals, the authorities in Kuwait should work to ensure that people are not harassed and abused because of who they are and should repeal laws that criminalise sexual acts between consenting adults.’

Kuwait, which NATO went to war on Iraq to protect in the early 1990s, bans sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. ‘Imitating members of the opposite sex’ is also a criminal offence, punishable with a fine or a prison sentence of up to one year.

The proposal is due to be discussed by the GCC states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — in November.