Lawmakers blast Emirates over jailing gays

A bipartisan group of six federal lawmakers issued a strongly worded letter Thursday to the United Arab Emirates government to denounce the jail sentences given to 11 men recently convicted of homosexuality.

The letter, organized by openly gay Rep. Barney Frank (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., followed one that conveyed similar concerns in December, after 26 men were arrested in Abu Dhabi at what authorities described as a "gay wedding."

The lawmakers claim the Emerati embassy did not adequately respond to their initial concerns, and in the meantime the situation has worsened for some of the detainees.

Of the 26 men, 11 were sentenced last month to six years in prison. One man received a one-year sentence.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/lawmakersblastemiratesoverjailinggays

still a third world country. :puke: