In a video she posted on Snapchat, Kuwaiti trans woman Maha Almutairi, who is often described as Kuwait's first openly transgender person spoke out for the first time about "police's violations against her" including sexual harassment and rape.
#ططوه_المطيري مها المطيري مواطنة كويتية عابره جنسياً عانت من اضطهاد الشرطة الكويتيه وقررت أن تسلم نفسها لهم ! يجب علينا كمجتمع الميم العربي حمايتها نرجو الجميع التغريد بالهاشتاقين pic.twitter.com/TxmmYdnRnW
— مجتمع الميم العربي (@LGBTQarabic) June 5, 2020
Sobbing, Maha Almutairi explains that she was arrested as per Kuwaiti laws that criminalizes "imitating the appearance of the opposite sex" before she was imprisoned in a men's jail. Almutairi continues to reveal that "she was sexually harassed and even raped by policemen."
notice how it didn’t say “rape” and “put them in jail”? #ططوة_المطيري #إلغاء_مادة_198_من_قانون_الجزاء pic.twitter.com/RLzkI8qqVo
— ACAB!!!!! (@kelsolovebot) June 6, 2020
The idea of being the next scares me, we suffer for our entire lives, we don’t commit suicide on the hope of being comfortable in the future then we find out we will be suffering till death!! Please stop treating trans like shit their lives matter!
— don’t take me seriously (@psychoforeal) June 6, 2020
Sympathizing Twitter users launched the hashtag #FreeMahaAlmutairi to support her, demanding government action to abolish the 198 Article, which has for years justified arresting transgender people in the conservative country. Additionally, a petition and a donations campaign have been started in favor of her cause.
being a transgender is a crime but rape isn’t a crime?
— Tally (@babytaleen) June 5, 2020
ending up in jail just because she was being herself. got raped not only by PRISONERS BUT OFFICERS TOO!
This is not okay. this is not acceptable. we are with you #ططوه_المطيري I’m sorry pic.twitter.com/TBzI2y6K23
Several doctors and lawyers also expressed their desire to defend Maha in courts "until she receives the justice she deserves."
بليز اي احد يعرف يوصل لها يقول لها اني مستعدة اكون محاميتها و اني اكون معاها و امثلها امام جميع ادارات و جهات الدولة ؛ بليز اللي يعرفها خلوها تتواصل معاي #ططوه_تستحق_الحريه #ططوه_المطيري pic.twitter.com/xYdRCuGWWe
— Shaikha salmeen ⭐️ (@shaikha_salmeen) June 5, 2020
Translation: "Please anyone who knows her personally; can you tell her I'm ready to be her attorney and to represent her in front of every government institution. Please ask her to contact me."
وصلني تقرير طبي يثبت الحالات بالكويت إذ لايوجد لها علاج أصلاً لأن ببساطة هم ولدوا هكذا وهذه طبيعتهم وهويتهم الجنسية فإقصاءهم من المجتمع أمر مرفوض والإعتداء عليهم أمر مجرّم والتنمر عليهم أمر مشين، هم أبرياء يريدون العيش بسلام في وطنهم#إلغاء_مادة_198_من_قانون_الجزاء #ططوة_المطيري pic.twitter.com/I0OYo7HLy4
— م.عبدالعزيز الشعبان (@azizalshaban) June 6, 2020
Translation: "I've received a medical report that shows Kuwaiti cases with no cure, simply because this is how they were born. It's their nature and sexual identity. I totally reject excluding them from society, so is assaulting or bullying them. They are innocent people who ask for nothing but to live in peace."
Meanwhile, many users argued that Maha should take responsibility for violating law rules in the country where she lives.
#ططوة_المطيري❕
— ليان بنت وليد (@layanwkm) June 6, 2020
إذا كنت تريد أن تعيش بسلام في اي بلد، فأقل ما يمكنك فعله احترام قوانينها
الكويت دولة تأخذ الشريعة كمصدر للتشريع، إذا لا تريد تتبع ذلك فلا تشكو، مثل ما تتبع قوانين دول أخرى عند السفر، تابع قوانين ديرتك اول
كل انسان له حريته، لكن الحرية في ضمن حدود القانون 1️⃣
Translation: "If you want to live in peace in any country, the least you can do is to respect its laws. Kuwaiti laws are all derived from Islamic sharia, so if you don't follow it, you can't complain, just like you don't complain about laws in countries you visit. Every person can enjoy their freedom but within existing laws."
