The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said it summoned the top U.S. diplomat to the nation over concerns regarding social media posts allegedly “in support of homosexuality.”
The concerns included posts to verified social media accounts operated by U.S. Embassy Kuwait marking the start of Pride Month posted on June 2.
“All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.” @POTUS is a champion for the human rights of #LGBTQI persons. #Pride2022 #YouAreIncluded,” the post read.
“All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.” @POTUS is a champion for the human rights of #LGBTQI persons. #Pride2022 #YouAreIncluded pic.twitter.com/gdPPBDlHZH
— U.S. Embassy Kuwait (@USEmbassyQ8) June 2, 2022
The account has also displayed a Pride flag on the banner of its Twitter page in celebration of Pride Month.
The nation’s foreign ministry stated that it had sent a memo to U.S. charge d’affaires James Holtsnider “confirming Kuwait’s rejection of what was published and stressing the need for the embassy to respect the laws and regulations in force in Kuwait.”
The memorandum emphasized “the need for the embassy to respect the laws and regulations in force in the State of Kuwait and the obligation not to publish such tweets,” the foreign ministry said, pointing to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which provides a framework for diplomatic relations between states, NBC News reported.
Holtsnider has served as the top diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City since April following the departure of Ambassador Alina Romanowski at the conclusion of her tenure, according to the report.
The concern arose as homosexuality is legally banned in Kuwait, as is common in other nations led by Muslim law. The maximum penalty for homosexuality in Kuwait can include up to seven years of imprisonment, according to Human Dignity Trust.
Controversy also ensued when the U.S. Embassy in the Holy See marked the beginning of Pride Month by flying the rainbow flag. The Catholic Church continues to adhere to traditional opposite-sex marriage.
“Today is the start of #Pride Month. The United States respects and promotes the equality and human dignity of all people including the LGBTQIA+ community. #PrideMonth #AllInclusive #Pride2022,” the embassy’s post read alongside a picture of the flag hanging outside of its building.
Today is the start of #Pride Month. The United States respects and promotes the equality and human dignity of all people including the LGBTQIA+ community. #PrideMonth #AllInclusive #Pride2022 pic.twitter.com/6VgN9R8c3J
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) June 1, 2022
Though U.S. embassies in some other Muslim-led nations have also acknowledged Pride Month, Kuwait is the first reported to have summoned its embassy leadership over the matter. Similar Pride flags have not been hung outside of embassies in locations like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait.
The Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro highlighted the difference in a tweet as well, saying, “Let’s be clear: the Biden administration would never do this in an Islamic country. This is anti-Catholic bigotry.”
Let's be clear: the Biden administration would never do this in an Islamic country. This is anti-Catholic bigotry. https://t.co/jyTQbT80gW
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 1, 2022