Kuwait summons US embassy official over tweets that 'support homosexuality'

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the United States embassy's acting chargé d'affaires over tweets the embassy published that "support homosexuality", the ministry said in a statement.

The US Embassy in Kuwait tweeted earlier on Thursday: "All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love."

"@POTUS is a champion for the human rights of #LGBTQI persons."

Kuwait said it handed the chargé d'affaires a memorandum stating its rejection of what was published and stressing what it claimed was the need for the embassy to respect the laws and regulations in force in the State of Kuwait and the obligation not to publish such tweets.

Homosexuality is punishable by law in dozens of countries worldwide, including conservative Muslim and Christian nations.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia published on 1 June a tweet that included support for the LGBT community, saying: "During #Pride2022, @StateDept celebrates the contributions members of the LGBTQI+ community make to our nation.

"We are committed to ending violence, discrimination, and stigma against LGBTQI+ persons worldwide."

The US and many other countries mark Pride Month in June. The month celebrates and supports the LGBTQ+ community's history and human rights.

(Reuters)