Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Saudi man arrested for flying rainbow flag, didn't know what it symbolised

A Saudi doctor has been arrested for flying a rainbow flag, unaware of the gay pride message it carries.

A person holds a rainbow flag during the Gay Pride Parade in San Salvador, El Salvador, on June 28, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ Jose CABEZAS

A Saudi doctor has been arrested for flying a rainbow flag, unaware of the gay pride message it carries. Source: AFP

A man in Saudi Arabia has been arrested for flying a rainbow flag at his home, CNN Arabic reported.

The man, who is a doctor from Jeddah, a commercial and coastal metropolis in Saudi Arabia, was unaware the flag symbolised LGBTIQ pride.

Participating in or showing support for homosexuality is not only illegal in the country, but is punishable by death.

The man purchased the flag online after his children found its colours to be "pretty".

Shortly after, Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the Saudi religious enforcement body, arrested the doctor at his home.

The doctor faced an "investigation" by the committee, but was later released on bail after agreeing to take down the flag.

Earlier this year, an Arabic hashtag encouraging discussion of LGBTQI rights in Muslim states went viral in Saudi Arabia. The hashtag translated to "Respect Gay Rights".


1 min read

Published

By Shami Sivasubramanian

Source: SBS News



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world