The country of Saudi Arabia has banned rainbows and rainbow-colored patterns on clothes and toys for allegedly “promoting sexuality.” A recent report on state TV station Al Ekhbariya featured officials from the commerce ministry removing these items from shops in the capital of Riyadh.
- Rainbows are a violation of faith. While it might seem silly to outlaw literal colors, Saudi Arabia is taken the violation of its religious beliefs seriously. An official said in the video that rainbow-colored and patterned products “contradict the Islamic faith and public morals, and promote homosexual colours targeting the younger generation.”
- They also “contradict normal common sense.” The official in the news broadcast wasn’t alone in his beliefs. Instead of realizing that the measure might be a little over the top, the commerce ministry doubled down in a statement. “Our supervisory teams carry out rounds of sales outlets, seize and confiscate products that contain symbols and indications that call for anomalies and contradict normal common sense, and impose legal penalties on violating facilities,” the ministry said. It’s unclear whether it’s now also illegal to wear rainbow clothing or have rainbow toys in Saudi Arabia or whether this law is about sales.
- Homosexuality is against the law in Saudi Arabia. It won’t come as a surprise that not only is homosexuality illegal in the country, but that consensual same-sex sexual conduct is punishable by death or flogging.
- This isn’t the first crackdown made in Saudi Arabia against the so-called gay agenda. The country recently blocked the theatrical release of Pixar’s Lightyear because it has a same-sex kiss between two female characters. The UEA said in a statement: “The Media Regulatory Office announced that the animated film Lightyear, which is scheduled for release on 16 June, is not licensed for public screening in all cinemas in the UAE, due to its violation of the country’s media content standards.”
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ضبط محال في الرياض تبيع ألعابا تروج للمثلية بشكل غير مباشر..
التفاصيل مع مراسلنا عاصم الرشودي#نشرة_النهار#الإخبارية pic.twitter.com/JLibKrIwEc
— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) June 14, 2022
