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Dubai Nightclub Closed
CAIRO, April 1 (IslamOnline & News agencies) - A famous nightclub in the liberal Gulf emirate of Dubai has been shut down for hosting a "gay night" featuring a transvestite DJ of British origin, a newspaper reported on Sunday.
The Diamond Club was ordered closed by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) Defense Minister and Chairman of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), for "violating the Islamic laws of the country and indulging in immoral activities," reported the Gulf News on Sunday.
A DTCM spokesman said in a statement, "Following an order issued by General Sheikh Mohammed, the Diamond nightclub has been shut down for violating the Islamic laws of the country and indulging in immoral activities in contradiction with the laws of Dubai."
A senior DTCM official said that anyone violating the laws, values and morals of the UAE would face a severe punishment.
Hindu-owned Diamond Club General Manager Shyam Lala confirmed the nightclub had been closed, refusing to give any further details or comments.
Gulf News, citing industry sources, said the action was taken because the Diamond Club hosted a "gay night" last month in which a transvestite DJ from the U.K. also participated.
DTCM officials reportedly attended the night - called "Fluff" - after receiving complaints about promotional flyers that had been distributed around the city. The closure also affects the neighboring nightclub Fibber Magees, on the same trade license as the Diamond Club.
Both nightclubs - the Diamond Club was previously known as The Venue - were closed once before, along with The Lodge at Al Nasr Leisureland, for violating the law by hosting New Year's Eve celebrations during the holy month of Ramadan in 1997.
The Diamond Club and Fibber Magees were re-launched in August 1999 under new management.
Among other nightlife "attractions" in Dubai is a proliferation of other vices. Local newspapers often report the detention and expulsion of women from the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa on charges of prostitution.
All seven emirates in the UAE have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts.
Muslims represent 96% of the Emiratans, while Christian, Hindu, and other religious groups represent only 4% of the total population.
Dubai, the trading axis of the oil-rich Gulf Arab monarchies, has a popping nightlife and is investing billions of dollars to turn the emirate into the region's tourism, leisure, sporting and e-commerce capital.
The UAE's per capita GDP is not down from the GDPs of the developed Western European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed it to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.
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