Kelantan Police Detain Over 20 Men in Raid on Alleged Gay Party

Malaysian police conducted a raid in June on a bungalow in Kelantan, detaining over 20 men at a gathering described as a "gay party," marking the first reported case of its kind in the conservative northern state. Authorities found hundreds of condoms and HIV medication at the scene, though no sexual activity was observed during the raid, and all detainees were fully clothed. The men admitted to being part of a gay group and had publicized the event on social media, with police estimating over 100 attendees initially present. Three men were charged with possession of homosexual pornographic material found on their mobile phones, while others could not be prosecuted due to lack of specific laws or physical evidence. This incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in Malaysia, where homosexuality is criminalized under both civil and Islamic laws, amidst increasing societal intolerance and censorship of LGBTQ content. Authorities have expressed concern over such gatherings and stated they will continue monitoring gay groups in the region.