Homosexuals ‘may be barred from entering Gulf states’

Gulf states may carry out medical tests to detect homosexuals and prevent them from entering Gulf Cooperation Countries, according to a senior Kuwaiti official.

(AAP)

Yousouf Mindkar, the director of public health at the Kuwaiti health ministry, told daily newspaper Al Rai that health centres presently carried out "routine medical check to assess the health of the expatriates when they come into the GCC countries."

But under the new proposal, "we will take stricter measures that will help us detect gays who will be then barred from entering Kuwait or any of the GCC member states," he said.

Mr Mindkar did not provide further information on the nature of these tests.

The proposal will be considered before a central committee tasked with the status of expatriates on November 11, The Independent reported.

Homosexuality is punishable by death in five countries across the world including Iran and Yemen.