Ken Livingstone: “A gay banker in Dubai could have his penis chopped off”

Ken Livingstone, who caused controversy last week by saying that the Conservative Party was “riddled” with homosexuals, has made headlines again after saying in an interview, that a gay banker living in Dubai would have his penis cut off.

The Labour London Mayoral candidate was talking to the Metro about fears of a possible banking exodus in the light of potential new business legislation.

Livingstone had deemed Geneva too boring and Shanghai too risky (revolution apparently), before he unleashed his comment about Dubai.

Livingstone’s claim may not be complete hyperbole: Article 354 of the UAE Federal Penal Code says: “Whoever commits rape on female or sodomy with a male shall be punished by death.”

It is claimed by LGBT groups that this leaves open the death penalty as a punishment for consensual homosexual sex.

Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab British Understanding, said Mr Livingstone’s comment was “a desperate attempt to grab headlines using damaging stereotypes about chopping off body parts.

“It is true that many areas of the Arab world are not as tolerant towards homosexuals as we are in Britain, but many gay men travel to the region and work there and conduct their private lives in private.”

Well, I guess that’s just fine then. As long as you don’t hold hands in public, they won’t imprison you. What a place to live.

Maybe, Ken has a point, if not finesse.

Image: CC World Economic Forum