The Latest Social Ill To Plague UAE — Attack Of The Lesbians

Apparently there is an increasing trend in lesbianism in UAE schools and parents and counsellors are working hard to try to tackle the issue.

I know I should be used to this by now, but the UAE continues to astound me with how backward it is around sexuality and how discriminatory and ostracising the society is.

Lesbianism is against the law in the UAE, “is forbidden (haram) [in Islam, but] there is no specific punishment as per Sharia law.”

So-called experts on the topic in the UAE claim that lesbianism arises from being the “only girl among male siblings, absence of a father figure and sexual assault”.

Excuse me? I guess they would never trust the research that goes on around homosexuality, and has for decades, that clearly points to the fact that it is biological and not a choice. And what about those gay people who have known from childhood that they are attracted to the same sex?

Although there are still some counsellors in the west who try and convert people to be straight, homosexuality is accepted as part of the normal spectrum of sexuality.

They must have been thrilled to bits when a British man announced a few weeks ago that he is no longer gay.  At last! Proof that we can help people change their minds and stop their sinful behaviour.

Authorities are trying to curb deviant behaviour to better reflect the traditional conservative laws of the UAE. Last year the Ministry of Social Affairs launched an awareness campaign called Excuse me, I am a Girl, directed against what was described as ‘the ‘fourth gender’.

Meant to tackle lesbianism-related issues, the campaign included a series of workshops, TV programmes and lectures at universities and schools and was run by the Sharjah Social Care Centre for Women, an affiliate of the ministry. Samira Al Shair, Security Affairs Officer, Ajman Police, who implemented the campaign at Ajman Educational Zone said lesbianism accounted for 40 per cent of the 70-80 per cent of juvenile delinquency cases reported at Ajman schools.

So the government, hospitals, schools, and police are all involved in creating programs to tackle lesbianism. What a waste of money and time!

If this is what the government is doing it’s no wonder that students at the Sharjah University for Women (UOS) estimate “up to one-third of the residents are lesbian”. Research normally shows that about 4% of girls last had sex with someone of the same gender.

Administrators are obviously buying into this rumor-mongering because the dress code has been changing. Among Muslims, women have to cover themselves when they are in the company of men who are not their family. Being in the company of women is the only place where women are allowed to relax their dress and their behaviour. It looks like this is starting to change, at least at UOS, where “We were ordered to dress properly even inside the dormitory. Sleeveless dresses and shorts have been banned lately,” a student said.

It looks like the freedom of Muslim women is being even further eroded by fear of lesbians. Will these women ever get a break?!

According to Dr Alia, worried mothers have reported many cases of delinquent behaviour at the Umm Al Mo’mineen Society, Family Bonds Consultation Centre in Ajman, which deals with the issue, adding that lack of comprehensive research makes it difficult for experts to estimate exact numbers.

The solution, according to Dr Alia, includes gathering accurate statistics and assigning specialised committees to tackle the problem and setting in motion a mechanism to educate students and create awareness.

So, they want to “educate students and create awareness”. I have a feeling that this is not what I think it is. Rather than teaching equality and acceptance they will probably be teaching people how to combat lesbians, how to identify and crucify them. Not to mention how to get over it and become heterosexual.

On the plus side, there is some hope.

Badriya, who prefers to be addressed as Bandar (a male name), shocked television audiences across the nation when she openly spoke of her relationship with another girl, Maha, and expressed the desire to marry her and have children with her through artificial fertilisation. “I love my girlfriend and I want to have children with her,” she said on national TV, adding that she would work to support her family.

I hope that Bandar and others like her are able to band together and create some kind of change in their society. There must be incredible fear and insecurity among lesbians.

Contrary to the beliefs of those in charge, this anti-homosexual force will not solve the problem. It will only serve to drive them underground and cause psychological damage to girls living is what is already a repressive society for women.