Swiss watchmaker Swatch is suing Malaysia over the seizure of watches in the colors of the LGBTQ rainbow, a lawyer for the company said on Monday.
Last May, Swatch stores located in shopping centers across the country, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, were raided by a police unit of the Ministry of the Interior, which announced the seizure of “watches that included LGBT elements.”
The LGBTQ community faces discriminatory measures in Malaysia, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by prosecution and corporal punishment.
Swatch’s lawyer, Nizam Bashir, told AFP the complaint was addressed to the Malaysian interior minister and government and will be heard in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Thursday.
“Expression of Peace and Love”
In this complaint, filed on June 23, Swatch believes that “its commercial reputation has been damaged” by these embargoes.
The Swiss watchmaker is also asking to recover the 172 watches, estimated at $14,000.
Sous couvert de l’anonymat, un responsable du ministère de l’Intérieur avait justifié en mai ces saisies en faisant valoir que les montres saisies arboraient les lettres “LGBT” et les six couleurs symbols de cette communauté, au lieu des sept couleurs de l ‘rainbow.
Contacted by AFP, Interior Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was not immediately available for comment.
Source: BFM TV
