As many as 26 people were sentenced to five years in prison by a court in Abu Dhabi for admitting to be gays and organising a cross-dressers party and wedding at a hotel. Their arrest had made news in November last year when they gathered at a hotel in Ghantout, a desert region on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway to organise a gay wedding. Police got wind of the meeting and swooped on the hotel and arrested the participants.
The Khaleej Times said the gays defended themselves in the court saying they were proud of their act and were keen to practice it.
An earlier report said the gays may be given hormone treatment to correct their behaviour as sodomy is punishable by death under the Islamic sharia law.
Homosexuality is said to be common in this part of the world where men and women lead a highly segregated life.
The police had broken up the riotous wedding party with balloons and champagne last year at a hotel and took into custody some 12 men in Arab dress and others dressed as women who were to be the 'brides' at the wedding.
An Indian disc jockey who had come to perform as part of the celebration was among the arrested.