Five Police Officers Detained in Venezuela After Alleged Raid on Gay Venue

Venezuelan authorities have detained five police officers in connection with an alleged illegal raid and extortion at an LGBTQ+ entertainment venue in Lara state. The detentions followed reports from non-governmental organizations detailing the incident, which reportedly led to the apprehension of at least 33 men.

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accused the people of 'practicing the crime of homosexuality,' according to the victims' accounts.

The Public Ministry announced an investigation into the matter, assigning specialized prosecutors from Lara state and the national level, with a focus on human rights and gender diversity. The police, identified as belonging to the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), are accused of acting in civilian clothes and allegedly accusing individuals of "practicing the crime of homosexuality."

Human rights groups, including the Venezuelan Observatory of LGTBIQ+ Violence, Caleidoscopio Humano, and Movimiento Somos, condemned the event. They stated that the operation not only violated the rights of the establishment's owners but also criminalized and subjected individuals to public humiliation. The NGOs demanded an immediate and exhaustive investigation to identify and punish those responsible.

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This serious incident not only violates the rights of the establishment's owners but also criminalizes and subjects them to public humiliation.

This incident is not isolated. Activist Romario Sánchez noted that at least eight similar raids targeting LGBTQ+ venues have occurred since 2020 in various Venezuelan cities. In July 2023, a similar operation in Carabobo state resulted in the arrest of 33 men accused of "outrage to modesty" and other offenses. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has previously expressed concern over arbitrary actions and abuses of authority by Venezuelan security agents against the LGBTQ+ community, urging the country to cease criminalizing its members.

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incidents of hatred