Nine Arab “crossdressers” were arrested in Bahrain on New Year’s Eve, where homosexuality is illegal. They’ve been charged with public debauchery.

According to the Gulf News, the men will face court after the public prosecution’s investigation is complete. The men were arrested in a disco in Manama, and were “heavily made-up and wearing provocative outfits” and according to the charges were “soliciting revelers at the disco”. Police said that some of the men had altered their appearance through plastic surgery.

According to American gay site Towleroad.com, Bahrain has in the past proposed surveillance of hairdressing salons and beauty and massage spas as well as the monitoring of students in order to punish those who appear to have homosexual tendencies.

Early last year there was a proposal put forward to intercept gay people at airports, to stop them entering Bahrain.