LGBTIQ activists arbitrarily arrested, harassed and subjected to ill-treatment by police during protests

January-February 2021: Many cases of LGBTQI activists arbitrarily arrested, harassed, ill-treated and threatened by police were documented by Human Rights Watch during protests which began on 15 January. For example, on 26 January, a queer and intersex activist was harassed due to their intersex identity by police. During a demonstration on 2 February, police physically assaulted and insulted a transgender woman because of her gender expression. On 8 February, a queer activist was apprehended, detained and charged with “assaulting a public official while performing their duty.” He was handed a five-month suspended sentence on 17 February.

SeeHuman Rights Watch, February 2021.