PETALING JAYA: A recent police raid in Kelantan, initially labelled as a "gay party," was actually a health event, claims rights group Justice for Sisters.
The group is urging the Kelantan police to verify and correct any misinformation they disseminated regarding the event.
The incident, which was widely reported, sparked quick discriminatory remarks against LGBTQ individuals from various quarters, increasing fears of further discrimination and marginalisation.
"Justice for Sisters’ documentation of the event is completely different from the police’s account," the group stated.
According to the group, the event was a health initiative providing sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual practices.
Healthcare providers were present to deliver health talks. By midnight, the event was winding down, with about 20 individuals awaiting their test results.
"None of them provided sexual services at the event or were there to provide sexual services. The attendees were at the event to seek sexual health information and tests," the group clarified.
Contrary to police claims, no attendees paid a fee to attend, nor was the event promoted on social media.
Justice for Sisters also noted that although police tested the remaining attendees for drug use, all results were negative.
However, three individuals were arrested for possessing intimate content, which the group maintains are trumped-up charges.
The raid has heightened fears among LGBTQ individuals about seeking health services or attending similar events in the future.
The group highlighted that police have generally refrained from raiding health events targeting marginalised groups, as such actions counter public health goals.
Expressing concern about this re-emerging trend, Justice for Sisters urged the Health Ministry to investigate.
"Such raids and threats to health centres have a deterring effect on health-seeking behaviour among marginalised populations," they said.
The group also documented human rights violations by the police during the raid, including privacy breaches and degrading treatment of attendees.
They called for police to adopt a compassionate and professional approach to ensure the rights of marginalised groups are protected.
