Swiss watchmaker Swatch says Malaysian authorities raided its stores and confiscated 164 watches from its Pride Collection that bears rainbow flag colours.
This content was published on
2 minutes
AP/sb
Español
es
Malasia confisca relojes de la “Colección del Orgullo” de Swatch
It said on Tuesday that Ministry of Home Affairs officials raided its outlets in various malls across Malaysia on May 13 and 14 and seized the watches because they “bore LGBT connotations”.
The watches, from Swatch’s Pride Collection, timed for release before next month’s global Pride Month, feature rainbow colours along with messages of peace and love.
“We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colours and having a message of peace and love could be harmful for whomever,” Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek Jr. said in a statement.
“On the contrary, Swatch always promotes a positive message of joy in life. This is nothing political. We wonder how the Regulatory and Enforcement Division of the Home Affairs Ministry will confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that are showing up a thousand times a year in the sky of Malaysia,” he said.
Predominantly Muslim Malaysia criminalises same-sex relationships, with punishments ranging from caning under Islamic laws to 20 years in prison for sodomy under colonial-era civil laws.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution told the AP news agency that he is waiting for a full report on the matter before issuing a statement.
Swatch said it has resumed selling the Pride Collection watches and that its legal department is looking into the seizure.
Malaysian gay rights group Jejaka criticised the confiscation of the watches, saying it showed “a deeply unsettling level of intolerance.”
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Swiss researchers develop new treatment against lymphoma
This content was published on
The cancer can be effectively combated with the radioactive element terbium. However, the therapy has not yet been tested on humans.
This content was published on
Florian Willet was present when the Sarco suicide capsule was first used in Switzerland in September 2024 and had been placed in pre-trial detention.
This content was published on
At the start of the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Houngbo called for a "more efficient" organisation in front of the 187 member states
Microsoft invests $400 million in Swiss AI expansion
This content was published on
Among other things, the existing data centres in the Geneva and Zurich regions are being expanded as part of this investment.
This content was published on
This is the first study first to report a direct interaction between floating plastic debris in the atmosphere and any species.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Some 134 anti-LGBTQ attacks registered in 2022
This content was published on
Reported discrimination reached record levels in 2022, but unreported cases mean the true extent is difficult to assess, rights groups said on Wednesday.
LGBT activists protest at FIFA museum ahead of Qatar World Cup
This content was published on
A few dozen people have protested in front of the FIFA Museum in Zurich ahead of the World Cup hosted by Gulf state Qatar.
Gay marriage vote: Papers praise ‘united, respectful and progressive’ Switzerland
This content was published on
Newspapers have heartily welcomed the “historic decision” by almost two-thirds of Swiss voters to say “I do” to gay marriage.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.