BAHRAIN BLOCKS GAY SITES

The government of Bahrain has blocked gay social networking sites, such as Gaydar, from being viewed in that country, reports the Gulf Daily News.

The move is part of the government’s crackdown on pornography on the internet.

While Bahrain is seen as one of the more tolerant Muslim nations in the Middle East, homosexuality is nevertheless illegal with few openly gay social spaces.

Gay dating sites are seen by many as a safe means for gays to meet one another. They will now have to find other more public and possibly more dangerous ways of meeting.

“I also think a lot of expats will end up leaving now – they live here mainly because Bahrain is more liberal,” one local gay man told the newspaper.

Bahrain’s government has in the past periodically deported foreigners because of their sexuality.