Malaysia bans Swatch LGBT merchandise together with watches

Malaysia’s authorities says it’s banning all Swatch merchandise that include lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender or queer components.

Watches, wrappers and containers are banned, with authorities warning anybody discovered with one selling LGBTQ rights might be jailed or fined.

Same-sex relationships in Malaysia, which is predominantly Muslim, are unlawful.

Punishments vary from caning beneath Islamic legal guidelines to twenty years in jail beneath colonial-era civil legal guidelines.

The product ban comes after Malaysian authorities raided Swatch stores in May and seized 172 watches that remember LGBTQ rights.

Some of the watches have rainbow colors whereas others are in a selection of six single colors that correlate to the homosexual satisfaction flag, with two rainbow loops on their straps.

The Swiss watchmaker is suing the Malaysian authorities and is seeking damages and the return of the watches.

It has contested allegations the watches had been dangerous, saying they carry a message of peace and love.

In a press release on Thursday, Malaysia’s residence ministry stated the merchandise are “detrimental, or possibly detrimental, to morality, public interest and national interest by promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ movement which is not accepted by the general public”.

Anyone present in possession of the banned merchandise faces as much as three years in jail or a positive of as much as 20,000 ringgit (£3,428), it warned.

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In July, the federal government lower quick The Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur after Matty Healy, the frontman of British band The 1975, kissed bassist Ross MacDonald onstage in protest towards the nation’s anti-gay legal guidelines.

The band later cancelled two tour dates in Asia – at We The Fest in Jakarta, Indonesia, and on the Taipei Music Centre in Taiwan.

Malaysia has since blacklisted the group.