Gay Saudis, who either live in secret at home or in exile abroad, do not hold back when asked about the star footballer’s alleged hypocrisy
It was hardly a call for revolution. In a homemade internet video, Mohamed al-Bokari had simply said: “Everyone has rights and should be able to practise them freely, including gay people.”
Before long, the 29-year-old was languishing in a Saudi prison over the remark, charged with “violating public order and morals” and suspected of being gay, which is illegal in Saudi Arabia and can carry a punishment of up to 500 lashes.
Mr al-Bokari, a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia, was allegedly tortured during his imprisonment in 2020 as jailers forced him to confess to being gay. One report said he was subjected to an anal examination to determine his sexuality. Eventually, he was sentenced to a 10-month imprisonment and deported back to Yemen after an international outcry.
It is cases like Mr al-Bokari’s that have driven fury at Jordan Henderson, the former Liverpool footballer who signed with a Saudi club despite presenting himself as a long-time ally of the LGBT community.