Malaysia seizes rainbow watches from Swatch stores in series of raids
Malaysian authorities raided Swatch stores across the country to seize 164 rainbow-coloured watches from its Pride collection.
LGBTQ+ people face growing intolerance from conservatives in the region, where same-sex relationships are punishable by caning under Islamic law and 20 years in prison for sodomy under colonial-era civil laws – though enforcement of these is rare.
Jejaka, a Malaysian gay rights organisation, told This Week in Asia that the raids show “a deeply unsettling level of intolerance” by the government. “As a society, we need to ask ourselves: what kind of message are we sending when a rainbow, a universal symbol of hope, becomes controversial?” its Deputy President, Dhia Rezki Rohaizad added. READ MORE: Russia fines Google for refusing to remove LGBTQ+ content The watches come in a choice of six colours that match the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, with two rainbow loops on their straps.
Raids by Home Ministry agents occurred from 13 to 14 May across 11 Swatch outlets in major shopping centres. The items were seized because they “bore LGBT connotations” and were worth a total of $14,000 (£11,280), the Swiss watchmaker confirmed.
