US condemns UAE arrest of homosexual couples

The United States yesterday condemned the recent arrest of a dozen same-sex couples in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and deplored the statement by the UAE Interior Ministry that the men would be subjected to forced hormone and psychological treatment.

"We call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to immediately stop any ordered hormone and psychological treatment and to comply with the standards of international law," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

UAE police arrested the men at what they described as a group wedding ceremony. They also took into custody an Indian disc jockey and the man who was to perform the ceremony. This is the latest in a string of mass arrests of homosexuals in the United Arab Emirates.