Rights groups in Taiwan have called on police to apologise following a raid on a local gay bar on Saturday afternoon, describing the operation as “heavy-handed” and an infringement on patrons’ rights.
Officers from Taipei’s Wanhua Precinct raided the popular Commander D bar under a warrant reportedly issued following allegations of nudity and indecent behaviour. The raid prompted a protest outside the local police station the following day, attended by more than 100 people.
LGBTQIA+ rights groups alleged that officers refused to show the warrant, ordered patrons not to speak or use their phones, and used insulting language toward people present, including a person with a disability. The groups also said dozens of people were detained for questioning. Audio allegedly capturing an officer using a derogatory term toward a wheelchair user was later shared on social media.
Campaigners also alleged that police had arranged for a reporter to photograph people who were detained inside the bar.
Following the protest, 10 local community groups issued a joint statement condemning the raid.
“It is unacceptable for the Taipei City Government to promote itself internationally as LGBTQ-friendly while suppressing queer people at home,” the statement said.
Police defended their actions, saying they were responding to a complaint from a concerned member of the public who alleged the venue may have been contravening public decency laws. Police said 58 customers were inside the venue and that 51 people were cited under the Social Order Maintenance Act for alleged public nudity and indecent behaviour.
Police spokesperson Chen Yu-cheng told Reuters there were concerns about “offences against public morality”. He said the citations related to laws prohibiting people from “wantonly exposing one’s naked body or presenting a lascivious posture in a public place or publicly accessible place”.
It was later revealed that the allegations of nudity related to men removing their shirts inside the bar.
Police also confirmed that an officer had made a derogatory remark toward a wheelchair user and said disciplinary action had been taken. Authorities added that the media photographer had been inside the bar as a customer when the raid began.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an expressed support for the LGBTQIA+ community following the incident. The raid comes just weeks before Taiwan’s annual Pride Parade and ahead of upcoming local government elections.
