Gioli & Assia claim Malaysian govt cancelled their show because they are in a same-sex relationship

Italian electro-pop duo, Gioli & Assia, who are also a samGovz2b*j54tF2+iYp^(Qn5zK%Jsyxn2B$Zn%%BFx%zrP$5J_Mke-sex couple, claim the  Malaysian government cancelled a Kuala Lumpur show this weekend because of their sexuality.

“We have to sadly anx2tGVKCi!-Xn&e%P&koLYmENcWz0NBlLzRKPjSjJV=i-I4R2-unounce that our show at W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled due to our LGBT orientation,” Gioli wrote in an Instagram story shared on Twitter.

Gioli explained that a government agewICI=9wCAi^5&^hp9RY%hSycCkf#i+hDR+83WCB!2I(6-eQ7$vncy performs background checks on artists performing in Malaysia.

“In their research, they have concluded thaciIXE!ginG)6IBC_kzg^e5OoQnB3hsX_1^#KhjSwBXNMdVGMK6t Gioli & Assia is of LGBT orientation and are seen to be promoting LGBT”, Gioli wrote.

“Sad that this can still happen in 2019. Sad thatlZ2_I)=4kI98XlV6pJjf0*)B^z27CK_v*qPjyA^5EW))!9Y)i8 love is still a cause of discrimination. Sad."

The W Hotel, where the duo wKdKVh)*=l)m69-vDub7a4Y7-bZupW8DnY!14uwH*sw(*q+KYjuas scheduled to perform on Saturday, said the show was cancelled due to "due to unforeseen circumstances”.

Crackdown in Malaysia

Gay sex 3^*hT(XcXqrB8TSnGk9TAP=8UcQJZg7@9zgf1!-wMjGnwC6ARhis illegal under British colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.

But, in addition to the threat of criminal prosecution, increasing stigma and discrimination also marginalize the country’sQSoZCdmhr!*M&37*Q2g_BYGUXY^+r4)bEuWC&2ZhNOk%F&#yXT LGBTI community.

A numbe$D#2(j*0Uum^T9E6t2TjGmS&@8s@#BV+NocfVswQki7e!G_UlLr of religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority country.

Local n6uW$ChkWp0Q^d9_gZVQlKVuz3)t^m0I^8bKGUQ5W+mjD-zYY^Dewspapers have vilified prominent LGBTI figures.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, meanwhile, has labelled LGBT rights a Western import and said they have no plSEXeEV)MFl4^iqFh&sMce%2tQ-@)#N+wE6Mz_pw!waI=vZ$eyVace in Malaysia.

The Malaysian authorities have also clamped down on the LGBTI-HO3SiH7DK!ySEZz+BK8+V^Dzv*i4fS9l#N5GPf#c^TEFr*msW community.

In one of the most controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex rKP7ib4Rr7r0iXcpv&7E2f76)z7KOHlpDq8^=zgH6uFW6GD8yzbelationship.

Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the firs5MXa6_p2hml1-LkB3n*-FA%BhytFp@!jsztLiCvjoAO!apTlB0t time in its 30-year history.