A high court in Malaysia has today upheld a police ban which saw
a gay arts festival banned over Muslim disapproval, last
year.
As previously reported on DIVA, law enforcers in Malaysia
cancelled The Sexual Independence festival in November 2011, after
local Muslim groups threatened to protest it.
The event, which has been running since 2008, was scheduled to run
from 9 November and promote tolerance through artistic
expression.
But, after criticism by the Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
and several Muslim groups, police officials scrapped it.
As a result, gay activists launched a legal fight against the ban,
but - earlier today - Judge Rohana Yusuf ruled in favor of the
police who declared the ban.
Activists plan to appeal the ruling, but they face a struggle -
at the time deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a
statement that authorities will "prevent any function relating to
the program."
Many organizations "feared the program could create disharmony,
enmity and disturb public order," he added.
